The 2021 is the second vintage of Rondure. The year was another dry one, resulting in a much richer wine than the 2019. The Capas Technique brings out the best in this amazing vineyard, highlighting its bright flavors and intricate complexities.
This is a complete wine, offering a full sensory experience that lingers and evolves with each sip. It captures not only the essence of the Russian River Valley’s terroir, but also the unique complexity that results from our layered winemaking process. This wine is a true gem for Pinot Noir enthusiasts. Delicate and enchanting, the nose on this Russian River Valley Pinot Noir offers an array of floral notes. Lilac and iris bloom gracefully, evoking a garden in full spring. Aromas of strawberries and raspberries appear fresh and vibrant. A subtle hint of salt water adds a coastal nuance, inviting you to explore further. On the palate, the wine displays a captivating interplay of flavors. The tartness of rhubarb dances with the sweet succulence of ripe strawberries, creating a harmonious blend of red fruit sensations.
Vintage
The last of the drought years resulted in lower than average yields. The season’s modest yields, mild summer, and extended, rainless ripening period created ideal conditions for fruit development. Though the yields were only about half of what they were in 2019, the fruit was that much more concentrated and expressive.
We’d be remiss not to mention that this vintage was still during the height of the pandemic. Masks were required, teams were smaller and the threat of another lockdown in our area loomed. Yet through it all, the grapes (and we) prevailed.
Specs
Clone: Pomard & Swan
Alcohol: 14.1%
pH: 3:48
TA: 6.0
Production: 2 Barrels (Puncheons) = 100 Cases
Bottled: July 2023
Released: February 2024
2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
Tasting Notes
This Pinot Noir offers a high-tone fruit profile that flows down onto a subtle underpinning of savory mushroom, creating a delightful interplay of flavors. The nose unfolds with layers of fragrances. Rose petal notes gently lead the way, followed by the bright and inviting aroma of ripe raspberries. Hints of bay leaf and subtle pencil shavings add an intriguing herbal and mineral aspect. Take a sip, and the smooth tannins coat your mouth with a luxuriously velvet texture. Roasted herbs emerge, infusing the wine with a savory richness that resonates with the nose. The black plum and cranberry flavors provide a vibrant and juicy fruitiness that balances the savory elements, with a subtle hint of mushroom and forest floor after rain.
The Sangiacomo family has been farming in Sonoma County since the late 1920s and planted their first vineyard about 40 years later. Roberts Road Vineyard boasts some of the family’s most esteemed grapes, with the resulting wines exuding elegance characterized by their opulent yet delicate nature and velvety, supple mouthfeel.
The growing season is long, slow, and even – the perfect combination for high-quality, balanced grapes. Morning fog lingers until mid-day, ensuring optimal ripening conditions. This is consistently one of the last vineyards in the area to be harvested.
Located north of Copeland Creek, the vineyard has well-drained, gravel-enriched soil and two distinct watersheds: one flowing south to San Pablo Bay and the other north to the Russian River.
Originally planted in 1999 with select Chardonnay and Pinot Noir clones, Roberts Road Vineyard now hosts an array of fourteen different clone and rootstock combinations of these Burgundian grapes. More than twenty distinguished wineries source grapes from this vineyard, yielding over a dozen vineyard-designated wines, each a testament to the exceptional character and terroir of this remarkable site.
Specs
Clone: Pommard & Swan
Alcohol: 14.0%
pH: 3.59
TA: 5.5 g/l
Production: 2 Barrels (Puncheons), 100 Cases
Bottled: July 2023
Release: February 2024
Capas Method
As with all Rondure wines, these wines were produced via the capas method, an ancient style of winemaking that layers in different ripeness of fruit into the ferment over an extended time.
The first round of grapes were picked around 22 Brix (about 13% alcohol). and-picked at night and delivered to the winery at sunrise, the fruit passed across the sorting table and was destemmed immediately. 10% of the fruit was added whole-cluster, which provides a bit of extra tannin and helps provide the structure the wine will need for aging. The resulting must went into some large neutral oak puncheons (500 L/132 gal) with their lids removed. Each vessel was filled ⅓ full. I love fermenting in puncheons, as it builds complexity in the wine.
Fermenting in oak barrels allows for the seamless integration of oak tannin. The must sits for 7 days as the native yeast multiplies and eventually starts fermenting the must.
A second pick was made, 7 days later, when the grapes were at approximately 24 Brix (14% alcohol). Half the fruit was destemmed and allowed to sit while the other half of the lot was added to the barrels that were already actively fermenting at about 90F. Like the first round, 10% of that fruit was left whole-cluster. Adding the fresh fruit naturally cooled the ferment and diluted the yeast population, extending the fermentation time. This additional time contributes to mid-palate richness in the wine.
After another three days, when the fermentation temperature again approached 90°F, the final third of the fruit was added, resulting in the same lowering and slowing of temperature and fermentation.
The capas process results in a ferment that takes nearly twice as long as a regular ferment.
Post fermentation, the wine was pressed into the tank while the lids were reinstalled on the puncheons. The wine was then returned to the puncheons and aged for 6 months, in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral French oak. Larger puncheons have less surface area relative to the volume of wine they contain compared to smaller barrels. This means wines in puncheons are exposed to less oxygen through the wood, leading to a slower and more gradual aging process. Wines aged in puncheons take on more delicate oak undertones and often have a longer aging potential due to the more gradual and controlled evolution.
After puncheon aging, the wine was racked from barrel to small concrete tank, where it sat for a further 6 months. Concrete tanks are largely inert, meaning they don’t impart significant flavors or aromas to the wine. This final stage of aging in concrete allows the wine to “harmonize” prior to bottling. I can’t explain why it works, but it definitely helps the wine calm down a little. Concrete also contributes to the development of a soft and silky texture, which is particularly beneficial for wines intended to age gracefully with refined tannins.
The wine was bottled unfiltered and rested in the bottle for 6 months prior to release. It will last and improve, for as long as your patience will allow.
What’s Included
4-bottles:
2x 2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
2x 2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Case:
6x 2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
Rondure Wines are crafted meticulously to exhibit different layers over time, resulting in wines that are complex, layered, rounded and beautiful. They’re not just wines, but works of art that invite you to slow down and appreciate the little things, from the multitude of personality traits in one glass to expanded time and space with loved ones. Indulge in the nuances in each wine because great art is meant to be savored – and in doing so, you create memories to last a lifetime.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, 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
2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Vintage
Specs
2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
Tasting Notes
Specs
Capas Method
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$720.00/Case for 6x 2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard, Petaluma Gap + 6x 2021 Rondure Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley at Rondure Wines
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, 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
Thursday, Oct 2 - Monday, Oct 6