Lot #21 EMERITUS VINEYARDS

This wine is from an extraordinarily expressive barrel of ‘Elite’ selection Pinot Noir from the famed Hallberg Ranch. This coveted field selection was sourced as a “Clone de Valise” (suitcase clone) from Burgundy’s legendary La Romanée Vineyard three decades ago by Emeritus Vineyards founder Brice Cutrer Jones and Kirk Lokka. In the dark of night, Kirk worked by touch, hunting for the right size and shaped pieces of budwood, which the two brought back to their hotel and soaked in the bathtub to keep them wet, before sealing the tips of the cuttings with candlewax. Today, the prized vines from these cuttings are more than 20 years old, with root structures that dig as deep as 20 feet into the earth, producing succulent and exotic wines of extraordinary elegance, character and complexity.

The Emeritus team began transitioning Hallberg Ranch to dry farming in 2007. Dry farming allows the grapes to develop fully mature flavors at a lower Brix. Dry-farmed grapes also retain the natural acidity that is essential to creating vibrant, energetic Pinot Noirs, and increases the overall concentration of flavors.

Emeritus Vineyards has gravitated toward lighter and lighter toasting of barrels and a higher percentage of Vosges wood. These two factors provide “Clone de Valise” with powdery floral aromatics and a high-toned structure. It is heady with nectar-like fruit and exotic white flower aromas. The tannin and acid structure create a juicy and succulent sensation that works perfectly with the blood orange flavors that persist for up to five minutes on the palate.

WINEMAKER(S): David Lattin & Keith Hammond

ESTIMATED BOTTLING DATE: July 2023
ESTIMATED SHIPPING DATE: May 2024

National Distribution: AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IL, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, WA, Washington, DC

International Distribution: Includes Japan, Korea, Norway; please inquire for additional countries.

A winemaker dinner or store visit is offered in your market as part of this lot. Must be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date.