Niner Wine Estates Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Jes­persen Ranch’s fog­gy morn­ings and coastal breezes cre­ate per­fect grow­ing con­di­tions for Pinot Noir. After hand-har­vest­ing the grapes, we fer­ment­ed them in small, stain­less steel, open-top tanks. About ¼ of the fer­men­ta­tions includ­ed a whole-clus­ter com­po­nent, which adds a del­i­cate tan­nin struc­ture, spice and length to the wine. The 2020 vin­tage includes only the high­est qual­i­ty, free-run juice aged for 10 months in French Oak bar­rels. The wine is full of red fruit fla­vors, with a bright and juicy palate under­scored by warm­ing pot­pour­ri, spice and clay flavors.

VINEYARD Jespersen Ranch is located four miles from the ocean, tucked into the hillsides in the western corner of the Edna Valley. We farm seven different clones of Pinot Noir at this coastal site and it produces wines full of layered flavors, rich color and ample acidity. The 2020 vintage was unforgettable. In the early days of the pandemic the vineyard was a fantastic respite, with mild weather and lucky March rainfall that produced large vine canopies. Moderate Summer weather was then followed up by heat spikes and the California wildfires in early Fall. Thankfully, the vine’s large canopies helped shield the grapes from the heat, and our vineyard escaped the effects of smoke taint and we hand-harvested all of our Pinot Noir in September.

WINEMAKING We have a second winery situated behind our tasting room that is dedicated to our Pinot Noir program. After hand-harvesting the grapes, we ferment them in small, stainless steel, open-top tanks. About ¼ of the fermentations included a whole-cluster component, which adds a delicate tannin structure, spice and length to the wine. The 2020 vintage was comprised of the highest quality, free-run juice and we aged the wine for 10 months in French Oak barrels. The result is a wine full of red fruit flavors, with a bright and juicy palate underscored by warming potpourri, spice and clay flavors.