Idlewild’s focus is two-fold: First, Piedmontese varieties as single varietal and vineyard wines of typicity, energy, and balance; and second, Piedmontese varietal blends that balance joy and depth while complementing the table.
2021 Idlewild Barbera, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
93 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
While I tend towards lighter and brighter in my reds, Barbera is the exception. With such amazing natural acidity, a deeper and more brooding wine can still find balance. The year spent in large format Slovenien oak Botti added an additional layer to the mouthfeel by filling out the tannin profile while also maintaining the freshness. Amarena cherries, earth, pepper like spice, violets, graphite and fresh Santa Rosa plums are aromatic highlights. A full and lush front and mid palate are balanced by the firm and very fresh structure.
Vineyard
Lost Hills Ranch sits on a lonely ridge in the Yorkville Highlands. Located near the southwest corner of Mendocino County, the climate is marked by a clash of maritime and continental influence. At 1500 feet of elevation, the vineyard often looks down on the fog hugging the valley below, or conversely, the cooling winds run along the ridge as the heat sinks on warmer days. The soils are comprised of deep fractured sandstone with veins of schist. The vine roots work hard to push deep into the rock, and in turn, a powerful core can be found in the fruit grown here. Holistic and organic practices ensure a healthy site for now and for future generations to come.
Vintage
2021 was a year that had us worried with drought and low yields, yet that is often the recipe for amazing fruit. We were lucky to have done a lot of work in the last few years to train our vines to less water while also increasing organic matter in the soils, which translates to higher water holding capacity. In other words, we cruised right on through these tough growing conditions and were able to see amazing fruit across the board.
Winemaking
Barbera is all acid and no tannin… literally, there is next to no tannin in the skins. With this in mind, the grapes were fully foot trodden and all stems were included for added spice and structure. The must fermented naturally via native yeast and bacteria. At dryness, the wine was pressed to large Slovenien oak Botti where it evolved and integrated for a year. Then, a year in bottle completed its aging.
Specs
Varietal: Barbera
Appellation: Yorkville Highlands
Alcohol: 13.6%
350 cases produced
2021 Idlewild Dolcetto, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
90 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Dolcetto is a balance of bright and lifted aromatics against a taute and lithe structure. The elevage in large format Slovenien oak Botti pushed this contrast further by retaining freshness while also filling out the mouthfeel and structure. The nose shows high toned spices, red cherry, earth, roses, almond, and anise. The mouth is medium bodied with freshness and firm tannin on the finish. It is joyful and fully serious all at once.
Vineyard
Lost Hills Ranch sits on a lonely ridge in the Yorkville Highlands. Located near the southwest corner of Mendocino County, the climate is marked by a clash of maritime and continental influence. At 1500 feet of elevation, the vineyard often looks down on the fog hugging the valley below, or conversely, the cooling winds run along the ridge as the heat sinks on warmer days. The soils are comprised of deep fractured sandstone with veins of schist. The vine roots work hard to push deep into the rock, and in turn, a powerful core can be found in the fruit grown here. Holistic and organic practices ensure a healthy site for now and for future generations to come.
Vintage
2021 was a year that had us worried with drought and low yields, yet that is often the recipe for amazing fruit. We were lucky to have done a lot of work in the last few years to train our vines to less water while also increasing organic matter in the soils, which translates to higher water holding capacity. In other words, we cruised right on through these tough growing conditions and were able to see amazing fruit across the board.
Winemaking
The grapes were brought in and sorted to larger fermenting bins where they were partially foot trodden, and all of the stems were included. This practice lends several things including floral lift, spice, and structure; and, it also leads to a very healthy fermentation. Native yeast and bacteria were responsible for the primary and secondary fermentations. As the wine neared dryness, it was basket pressed and then put down to large format Slovenien oak Botti for a year of elevage. Then, a year in bottle completed its aging.
Specs
Varietal: Dolcetto
Appellation: Yorkville Highlands
Alcohol: 12.2%
350 cases produced.
2021 Idlewild Cortese, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
91 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
This wine is a balance of texture in a lithe and demure format. The elevage in large Slovenien oak Botti retained great freshness while also framing the wine beautifully. Lemon balm, chamomile, sage, orange peel, straw, and white tea are highlights of the aromas. The mouthfeel is saline and viscous followed by driving acidity and firm phenolic power.
Vineyard
Lost Hills Ranch sits on a lonely ridge in the Yorkville Highlands. Located near the southwest corner of Mendocino County, the climate is marked by a clash of maritime and continental influence. At 1500 feet of elevation, the vineyard often looks down on the fog hugging the valley below, or conversely, the cooling winds run along the ridge as the heat sinks on warmer days. The soils are comprised of deep fractured sandstone with veins of schist. The vine roots work hard to push deep into the rock, and in turn, a powerful core can be found in the fruit grown here. Holistic and organic practices ensure a healthy site for now and for future generations to come.
Vintage
2021 was a year that had us worried with drought and low yields, yet that is often the recipe for amazing fruit. We were lucky to have done a lot of work in the last few years to train our vines to less water while also increasing organic matter in the soils, which translates to higher water holding capacity. In other words, we cruised right on through these tough growing conditions and were able to see amazing fruit across the board.
Winemaking
Roughly 20% of the blend was fermented on skins and sees an extended maceration of one and a half months for added depth and evolved structure. While this is a rather rare practice for a white wine, it lends a very savory and structured layer to the blend. To balance with freshness and minerality, the remaining 80% of the blend was directly pressed and fermented in neutral puncheon in a more common white wine fashion. Both of the two components were fermented naturally via native yeast and native bacteria. After a year in large Slovenien oak Botti, the wine was bottled late the following Autumn, followed by an additional year of bottle age.
Specs
Varietal: Cortese
Appellation: Yorkville Highlands
Alcohol: 12.1%
350 cases produced.
What’s Included
3-bottles:
1x - 2021 Idlewild Barbera, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
1x - 2021 Idlewild Dolcetto, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
1x - 2021 Idlewild Cortese, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
Case:
4x - 2021 Idlewild Dolcetto, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
4x - 2021 Idlewild Barbera, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
4x - 2021 Idlewild Cortese, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
Idlewild has a relatively concise aim within a broad context: to produce wines of exceptional balance and beauty. It is a journey to pursue Italy’s Piedmont in the elevated hills of Mendocino County, and to find the sides of these varieties that are intriguing, delicious, and haunting.
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
Idlewild Barbera, Dolcetto & Cortese
2021 Idlewild Barbera, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
93 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
2021 Idlewild Dolcetto, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
90 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
2021 Idlewild Cortese, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
91 Points, Vinous
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Vintage
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
not for sale on winery website, $576/case MSRP
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, Oct 19 - Thursday, Oct 22