Vineyard notes

Farley Peak is the highest point on Shamrock Ranch, an extensive property just south of Laytonville in northern Mendocino County. The property is primarily used for cattle production and timber harvest. The vineyard is relatively new and sits at 3000' elevation. We were attracted to this vineyard because it was developed by a long time friend and vineyard manager, Eric Foster, who has supplied us with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Elizabeth Vineyard in Redwood Valley.

Shamrock Ranch is also know by trophy hunters for the large (enormous) elk that graze on the land. It is not uncommon while driving to the vineyard atop Farley Peak to encounter wild boar and turkeys.

The pinot noir from this ranch is concentrated and elegant as the vineyard yields less than two tons per acre. While most of the fruit goes to a larger winery to the south, we have been able to secure a small lot for our winery

Production notes

Our concept of producing Pinot Noir took a sudden turn a short time ago when we tasted a Pinot from New Zealand that was only a year old. It was a very tasty wine and I was surprised to discover its young age. Until that time, I had based our production on a two-three year plan with considerable time allowed for barrel maturation. (We actually sampled this wine in Dublin on our way back from Italy.) Spending a shorter time barrel ageing, the wine displays a greater proportion of grape character than would otherwise be expected. Like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir provides a winemaker with a broad range of possibilities. In that regard, I would say the Farley Peak Pinot is closer to a New Zealand style and a far distance from Burgundy or Paso Robles.

Awards

Our production of Pinot from this property has been so small(less than 100 cases) that we have not entered it in competitions.