Cuvee #12, 2022, Pinot Grigio, Runway Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley

Brandon Farrell's Notes

Santa Maria and Pinot Gris/Grigio, whatever you prefer to call it, are having a perfect union. Not as showy or pricey as Chardonnay from the Valley, but under the right hands, Pinot Grigio is producing intriguing wines from this region. One plot in particular that I have been tasting and enjoying for years is the Runway Vineyard, which contains larger deposits of sedimentary soils. These tend to give the Pinot Grigio a little bit more lift and keep the wine leaner than other sites in the valley.

This is why I decided to bottle this vineyard solely. The wines show great body & structure due to brief skin contact, a combination of neutral barrels, & resting on the lees. While being light & refreshing enough to be enjoyed by Pinot Grigio fans, this wine has plenty of backbone, flavor, & intensity like an Alsace & Northern Italian Pinot Gris for wine enthusiasts. The artwork was done by my sister of a seascape in Gloucester. A perfect painting with a runway to the water, tying it all back to the sedimentary core of this wine.

Artwork/Design: Niki Farrell, Oil Painting