2024 Deerfield Pinot Noir, Next Step Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
The Bennett Valley AVA is a mountain valley that was once part of the Sonoma Valley. It became a separate AVA because of its unique terroir. Sheltered from the shadow of Sonoma Mountain, it enjoys greater coastal influence, resulting in cooler mornings and milder summer temperatures. Pinot Noir thrives in this climate.
Randi Grindstaff’s Next Step Vineyard is planted on gently rolling hills with rich volcanic soils. The vines are ancient Burgundy clones, carefully selected for their exceptional expression of this terroir.
The result is a delicate, elegant Pinot Noir that pairs beautifully with everything from pasta to steak and even Thanksgiving dinner.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Dijon clones 115 & 118
Appellation: Bennett Valley
Alcohol: 12.2%
Residual Sugar: .4 g/L
Production: 325 cases
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x - 2024 Deerfield Pinot Noir, Next Step Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
Case:
12x - 2024 Deerfield Pinot Noir, Next Step Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
PJ and Robert met at Berkeley in 1968. Robert, a back yard mechanic, kept PJ’s Italian sports cars running – takes an Italian to do that. As a thank you, PJ gave Robert, who was already interested in fine wine, a winemaking kit – seemed a good gift for a chemist grad. Robert made his first wine in his garage in Berkeley in 1972. He entered it in the California State Fair and took home the Best of Show Award. Robert found his passion and continued making wine in his garage, turned winery, for his family and friends.
Ten years later, PJ and Robert left their good jobs in the city to pursue their dream of owning a winery in the Sonoma Valley. In 1982, they bought the Deerfield Ranch in Glen Ellen where they got married, and turned the horse barn into their first winery. The Rexes still live there today, however, in 2000, they bought 47 acres on Highway 12 in Kenwood to expand the winery operation. The Deerfield Ranch Winery is still family owned and operated producing about 20,000 cases a year.
Our wines are barrel aged in the 23,000 sq. ft. cave, also home to the tasting room open daily to the public. Winemaker Robert Rex was the pioneer of the cleanwine® movement and can often be seen at the winery. His philosophy is “Wine should be good and good for you.”
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Oof, this is a toughie. We’ve got here a 2024 Sonoma single vineyard Pinot. The technical specs and color hint at more Burgundian (or perhaps, traditional) aspirations.
The wine has brilliant clarity and classic burgundy hue. It is a very restrained 12% alcohol. There’s some acid structure, but it’s softer than I’d expect, very modern California. The balance of tannin is excellent. The wine is very clean with no apparent faults.
But, you may be asking, what of the aromas? What of the midpalate, the finish?
It’s a good question. As the magic eight ball might say, ask again later, because this wine was apparently bottled less than three weeks ago according to the the bottle (???) and isn’t just dumb, it’s comatose.
Pinot, in my experience, hates being bottled. It sulks. It gives even the most seasoned winemakers anxiety. It pretty much goes on strike: you’re pretty sure what you’re tasting is wine, but can’t say much more than that. It usually gets over it, sometimes in a few months, sometimes a year and a half later.
There’s half a ghost of an aroma that suggests something Pinot shaped, at least after it’s had some time to open up. Then there’s some sweet fruit in the midpalate that probably will blossom in the fullness of time into some robust cherries.
So, my best guess is that this is at the very least, a very solid wine. If you’ve got some patience, it probably is a very good bet for laying down for a year or two.
My only reason for hedging “probably” is wondering why they’re releasing it now.
Deerfield Ranch Winery Pinot Noir
2024 Deerfield Pinot Noir, Next Step Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$504/Case at Deerfield Ranch Winery for 12x 2024 Deerfield Pinot Noir, Next Step Vineyard, Bennett Valley, Sonoma County
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 28 - Tuesday, Sep 29
2024 Deerfield Ranch Winery Pinot Noir
4 bottles for $74.99 $18.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Gone today, here tomorrow?
Oof, this is a toughie. We’ve got here a 2024 Sonoma single vineyard Pinot. The technical specs and color hint at more Burgundian (or perhaps, traditional) aspirations.
The wine has brilliant clarity and classic burgundy hue. It is a very restrained 12% alcohol. There’s some acid structure, but it’s softer than I’d expect, very modern California. The balance of tannin is excellent. The wine is very clean with no apparent faults.
But, you may be asking, what of the aromas? What of the midpalate, the finish?
It’s a good question. As the magic eight ball might say, ask again later, because this wine was apparently bottled less than three weeks ago according to the the bottle (???) and isn’t just dumb, it’s comatose.
Pinot, in my experience, hates being bottled. It sulks. It gives even the most seasoned winemakers anxiety. It pretty much goes on strike: you’re pretty sure what you’re tasting is wine, but can’t say much more than that. It usually gets over it, sometimes in a few months, sometimes a year and a half later.
There’s half a ghost of an aroma that suggests something Pinot shaped, at least after it’s had some time to open up. Then there’s some sweet fruit in the midpalate that probably will blossom in the fullness of time into some robust cherries.
So, my best guess is that this is at the very least, a very solid wine. If you’ve got some patience, it probably is a very good bet for laying down for a year or two.
My only reason for hedging “probably” is wondering why they’re releasing it now.