Campion Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2020

WINERY NOTES:

The 2020 vintage was the most difficult in my more than four decades as a winemaker. There were four heat spells leading up to and during the harvest. But the most significant problem was the lightning sparked fires that affected most of the Pacific Coast from Monterey to Oregon. Our vineyard sources in the Santa Lucia Highlands which we have used for twenty years were forced to drop their fruit on the ground due to smoke damage. Luckily, we were able to source fruit from the Goodchild Vineyard in Santa Maria. This old vine hillside location near the town of Sisquoc was not tainted by the smoke.

While I believe strongly in a recognizable signature style in some vintages the weather plays the dominant role. Such is the case with this warm vintage. There is a ripeness and readiness to these vintages that cannot and should not be resisted. The wine is a clear medium red. The obvious aroma is of cherry jam with fresh red fruits supporting it. There is an herbal savory undertone and a distinct confectionary note akin to candied almond that is almost white wine like. The mouth is generous, balanced and coherent with polished tannins playing against the active acidity. The wine finishes smoothly with cooked and fresh fruit along with the barest hint of new oak. It’s quite difficult to predict a wine’s ageability even for the winemaker who knows it best. Warm vintages do not usually last as long as cool or moderate ones. I’d drink this wine until 2026.

VINEYARD: Goodchild Vineyard

CLONES: Dijon 667, Dijon 115 & VR

FERMENTATION: Destemmed and in small bin, pressed after two weeks

AGING: 11 months in 25% new French oak

ABV: 13.7%

YEASTS: RC212