Ferrari-Carano 2007 Sky High Pinot Noir - Mendocino Ridge

The 2007 Vineyard-Select Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir from Mendocino Ridge in Anderson Valley. Superbly crafted, this wine boasts aromas of jammy blueberry, blackberry, rose, maple, and brown sugar complemented by full, rich flavors of black cherry and plum, with a hint of toasty oak on the finish. Yielding only a half-ton per acre, Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir’s velvety texture and dazzling complexity are underscored by bright acidity, creating a naturally-balanced wine perfectly representative of the terroir from which it came.

Vintage Notes

Located just off the coastal region of Mendocino County and only 15 miles long, peaceful and bucolic Anderson Valley’s warm sunny days and cool, foggy mornings and nights create the ideal microclimate for producing Pinot Noir grapes with intense fruit flavors. Surrounded by towering redwoods and lush forest, Ferrari-Carano’s Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir grapes are grown high above the fog line on the cool, steep slopes of Mendocino Ridge, not far from the Pacific Ocean. Early bud break in March led to a dry and moderate spring and summer. The grapes for this wine were harvested in late September. Overall this had to be one of the shortest harvests we can remember, with slightly lower yields than average, but with incredible concentration and intensity of flavors in the grapes.

Winemakers Notes

Upon entering the winery, the hand-picked Pinot Noir clusters are hand-sorted and gently destemmed. The grapes are cold soaked for three to five days and fermented in small bins. Various yeast strains are introduced to add complexity. The wines are gently pressed to barrel and aged for 15 months in French oak.

Appellation: Mendocino Ridge

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Cooperage: 100% select Burgundian French oak

Release Day: April 2010

Rhonda's Recipe and Pairing Notes

Smoked Chicken Risotto

Our 2007 Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir is a seductive, aromatic wine that pairs well with salmon, fowl and white meats such as veal.