Ghost Rock La Filles Pinot Noir 2024

Justin Arnold, Owner/Winemaker "A thing of aromatic beauty. So seductive and pure. Just wow every time for us. Silky, silky, silky."

Bouquet: A brooding and expressive aromatic profile, led by ripe plum, blackberry compote, and a twist of cracked black pepper. These dark fruit tones are underscored by subtle spice and earthy undertones, hinting at forest floor and dried herbs. It’s a deeper, more contemplative take on Pinot Noir, immediately captivating.
 
Palate: The palate is bold and generous, delivering impressive breadth and fruit weight without tipping into excess. Layers of dark fruit roll across the tongue, supported by supple tannins and a fresh, balancing acid line that keeps the wine vibrant and food-friendly. There’s a confident structure here—ample but poised—with a long, spice-laced finish that speaks to both ripeness and restraint. A Pinot for those who love depth and drive in equal measure.
 
Vintage: 2024 will be remembered as a vintage of distinction, with fabulous growing conditions that yielded fruit of superb quality. The climate during the spring and summer was notably warmer and dryer than previous years. This pattern had not been seen since 2019, which was also a year that made exceptional wines that are still holding up today. The wines from 2024 will be celebrated for having considerable character, intensity, and a great deal of potential.
 
Winemaking: The 777 clone was picked, destemmed, and fermented separately early in the season, with the 114 clone following nearly two weeks later. Both batches were wild fermented, hand plunged twice daily, and pressed just at dry. The clonal split of this wine is 70% 114, and 30% 777. Careful blending trials created this wine from the 11 best barrels, 3 of which were new, resulting in a 27% new oak profile. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
 
Viticulture: Planted in 2014, La Filles is one of our lowest and most sheltered vineyards. Intuitively, fruit from this vineyard is some of the earliest ripening. It’s long flat North/South rows make for consistent, warm growing conditions which translate into intense, deep aromatics within its fruit profile. The vines are hand tended and leaf plucked to ensure ample sun exposure and airflow.