Navarro Vineyards - 2014 Pinot Noir

2014 Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley, Mendocino
- (750 ml) Sold Out!

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Night crawler

Although 2013 has been heralded as a great vintage for California Pinot Noir, like Oregon producers, we're even more impressed with this 2014 vintage. Budbreak and harvest in 2014 were a week earlier than the prior vintage. The days during Pinot harvest in 2014 were sunnier, with 17% more solar radiation, and warmer, with daily high temperatures averaging 88°F compared to 81°F in 2013. Yields, in terms of pounds of fruit per vine, were virtually identical for the two vintages. Harvest sugars and acids measured identically for the two vintages with the pH of the final wine slightly higher in 2014. Both were produced from estate grown grapes, but the 2014 vintage has a higher percentage of fruit from Boonville which is a slightly warmer viticultural microclimate than Philo.

"De-leafed" Pinot Noir vines. Note the leaves on the ground. Preceding the pickers was a smaller crew removing leaves around the clusters making them much more visible to harvest.

Harvesting the Garden Spot Pinot Noir at night. Three tractors are necessary for night harvest; two to hold bins in which the pickers dump the fruit and a third tractor to move the floodlights with the pickers. The "light" tractor is on the far left in an adjacent row; the wheels can be seen behind a picker.

Whatever the reason, this bottling certainly won't disappoint and the price tag is astonishingly tiny. The season produced a wine with a fully ripe black cherry profile and the higher pH makes the wine a little more accessible in its youth. We kept the tannins supple by fermenting in small lots and punching down by hand. After pressing, the wine was aged ten months in seasoned, rather than new, French oak barrels to showcase Pinot's succulent fruit, then aged another year in bottles prior to release. A heavenly match with beef stew enhanced with local morels and chanterelles or just sauté the mushrooms for vegetarians in your crowd. Gold Medal winner. Best of Class.

Specifications

Harvested: Sept. 3 to 17, 2014
Sugars at harvest: 24.5° Brix
Bottled: Aug. 5 to 7, 2015
Cases produced: 3215
Alcohol: 13.9%
Titratable acidity: 6.6 g/L
pH: 3.65

2015 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

"Supple and delicious, this medium-bodied wine is not a blockbuster but has wonderful berry and black-cherry flavors, fine balance and a touch of fine-grained tannin in the texture. Light cinnamon and cedar notes come out with time in the glass and add complexity." Wine Enthusiast magazine

2014 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

"This medium-bodied wine has a compelling blend of restraint and power. It offers modest, fruity aromas at first, then nice tart fruit flavors that start off lean and soon expand exponentially in the mouth before tapering off elegantly on the finish. With little oak flavor in the way, it gives pure Pinot sophistication." Wine Enthusiast magazine

2013 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

This straightforward, well-balanced, medium-bodied wine has everything in place for the lunch or dinner table. Aromas and flavors resemble red cherry, cranberry and light spices, while the body is not too light or too full. The texture is tangy and a touch tannnic while staying smooth.Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2015.

2012 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

A perfect Pinot for a house wine, it does what it’s supposed to do without a lot of frills. It shows ripe enough cherry and raspberry aromas, an appetizingly dry balance, firm acidity and moderate tannins to keep it lip-smacking and fresh.Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast, March 1, 2015.

An easy pounder this wine is. Full of fruit, vibrancy and life. It has a great deal of character to it with notes of forest floor, cedar chest, cranberry and white pepper. A wine that’d be stellar with turkey and cranberry sauce.Duane Pemberton,, Communities Digital News, November 26, 2014 .

On solid footing, if dry and tannic, with fading wild berry and raspberry notes accented by hints of mineral and cedar. Drink now.James Laube, Wine Spectator, December 31, 2013 .

2011 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

On solid footing, if dry and tannic, with fading wild berry and raspberry notes accented by hints of mineral and cedar. Drink now.James Laube, Wine Spectator, December 31, 2013 .

2010 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, Mendocino

This ruby colored Pinot opens with a fragrant ripe black cherry bouquet. On the This is a very good Pinot for $20. It is ruby colored and opens with black currant and black raspberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced and easy to drink. The flavor profile is a mild plum with hints of black currant, mild smoky oak and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and its mild tannins are a bit sticky and linger. This wine is food friendly and it would pair well with Legal’s Portuguese fisherman's stew made with cornmeal crusted scrod stewed with mussels, clams and chourico sausage in a saffron tomato broth. Enjoy–Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com, November 10, 2013.

Savory and dark, with a sweet cherry core of fruit and firm tannin.- Patrick Comiskey, Critic's Challenge Wine Competition, 2012

2009 Pinot Noir Mendocino

All of the fruit that went into this crafty little sucker came from the Anderson Valley, not just the Mendocino AVA at large. Founded in 1974, Navarro has been driving people crazy with its “no retail outside of the winery” policy, but the wines are worth the drive, or at least a few clicks on the keyboard (on the Navarro website). Light-bodied with strawberry, rhubarb, blood orange and tea, you will not find pinot noir of this quality at this price anywhere else.Pamela Busch, The SF Examiner, February 4, 2012.

A fine young Pinot Noir, bristling with clean acidity and bone dry. It’s strongly flavored, giving a burst of cherries, raspberries, cola and spices.Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2011.

This dark cherry colored Pinot from Navarro is quite a deal. It opens with a fragrant strawberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, very nicely balanced, and very easy to drink. I enjoyed its tasty plum flavors with hints of cherry and slightly toasted oak towards the end. The finish is dry and pleasant. I would pair this quaffer with a tangy pulled pork sandwich. Enjoy–Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com, August 31, 2011.

Balanced varietal aroma with medium weight and a near-perfect balance. Needs a year to smooth out. Great value.Dan Berger, Vintage Experiences, August 8, 2011.

2007 Pinot Noir Mendocino

All Anderson Valley fruit. A light but nicely rich nose of cherry and blackberry with a hint of oak introduces clean, fresh flavors of the same with a touch of spice at the sides and well integrated fine tannin. It finishes broad and long. Well balanced, structured, and integrated, it will serve well as an everyday Pinot Harold Baer, www.haroldbaerwine.com, February 8, 2011.

This ruby colored Pinot opens with a fragrant ripe black cherry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, and very easy to drink. The flavor profile is a mild black cherry with notes of strawberry and a hint of old oak in the background. The finish is dry and its gentle tannins linger and drift away nicely. This Pinot would be a perfect complement to veal parmigianna. It is hard to find Very Good Pinot for less than $20, but this is certainly one of them. Enjoy –Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com, July 26, 2010.

A subtle, juicy wine, with delicate wild berry, cranberry and floral notes that are ripe but still offer refreshing element. Smooth and detailed, with pretty spice notes that accent the finish. Drink now through 2012 Maryanne Worobiec, Wine Spectator, December 31, 2009 .

2006 Pinot Noir Mendocino

A Pleasant with lightly spiced red fruits and sparkling acidity. - Rusty Gaffney, PinotFile, PrinceofPinot.com, June 9, 2008 .

2005 Pinot Noir Mendocino

Top Value. A Notably earthy, with dried berry fruit, anise, sage and cedar. - James Laube, Wine Spectator, September 30, 2008 .

I promised you I would tell you when I found a really good pinot noir under $20. I found it, and I'm telling you, this is excellent QPR. Rose aromas and juicy black cherry fruit usher you into the equally juice cherry flavors. There is medium toast on the mid-palate and a good balance already for a young wine between fruit, spice, and acidity. Not as complex as the Methode a l'Ancienne pinot noir, but a great deal for the price. - Good Wines Under $20, Friday, October 12, 2007 .

Top Value. Notably earthy, in a pleasant way, with dried berry fruit, anise, sage and cedar notes. A marked contrast to the fruitier 2004. Drink now through 2011. 2,924 cases made. - James Laube, Wine Spectator, November 15, 2007 .

2002 Pinot Noir Mendocino

A wine that really sings is the 2002 Pinot Noir. Slightly chilled, this wine could also serve all summer as a foil for any frolic you choose to embark on; this versatile juice is pert and pretty, with strawberry and watermelon fruit, and lip smacking freshness. Just dive in, but watch your head. - Leonard Maran, San Francisco Spectrum, July 2004.

Lean and restrained, with a trim band of cola, cherry and sage, it avoids excess while providing a solid core of fruit and tannins. Drink now. - James Laube, Wine Spectator, December 15, 2004.

2001 Pinot Noir Mendocino

Rich and fleshy, this simple pinot is filled with soft cherry flavor under a foresty scent. A touch of black tannin keeps the tension, for roast meats this winter. - Wine & Spirits, December 2003.

Smart Buys. A delicate style, with fragrant floral and rose petal aromas and ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavors that are elegant and refreshing. A terrific value. Drink now through 2008. - James Laube, Wine Spectator, October 15, 2003.