Tyler 2021 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

The Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir grapes come from the T13 block on vines planted in 1971. The soils are Elder Botella clay loam, full of chert and shale. The grapes are harvested before they are destemmed into open-top fermenters. Native yeast fermentation starts after about five days before the juice is gently extracted by using punch down and pump-overs. The wine is pressed and then settled before going into oak barrels, a third of which is new. The wine is aged on its lees between 12 to 14 months, before being racked and blended, then transferred back into barrel for another 3-4 months.