Nelson Hill's Deep End Vineyard is nestled in the elbow of a spring-fed creek at the north-west end of Northern California's Anderson Valley, once described by the New York Times as "California's Shangri-la." These are the ideal conditions for growing pinot noir, considered by many wine connoisseurs to be the noblest grape of them all.
This picturesque site benefits from the combination of cool nights moistened by fog funneled in from the near-by Pacific Ocean; sunny, warm days and a hospitable rock-ridden loam. We encourage wine lovers to make an appointment to visit us and to enjoy one of the wine country's most beautiful settings.
This picturesque site benefits from the combination of cool nights moistened by fog funneled in from the near-by Pacific Ocean; sunny, warm days and a hospitable rock-ridden loam. We encourage wine lovers to make an appointment to visit us and to enjoy one of the wine country's most beautiful settings.
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In 1999, Greg and Barbara Hill bought a small ranch from the Pinoli family in the heart of Anderson Valley's "golden mile" of wineries, close to Golden Eye, Roederer Estate, Husch and Navarro vineyards. They began rebuilding one of the valley's oldest farmhouses and planting a small vineyard on a south-facing slope.
Some winemakers say, with justification, that most of the decisions and events that determine the quality of a wine occur in the vineyard. But the winemaking itself is crucial in perfecting the wine, bringing out nuances that might otherwise not be expressed. After destemming, our grapes are lightly crushed into one-ton, open-top bins.
What makes pinot noir unique among red wines is the elegance and finesse of its delicious flavors and aroma. Far too often, wine writer Ed McCarthy notes, California pinots are "too big, too ripe and too high in alcohol". The trend is worldwide. In his book, "North American Pinot Noir", John Haeger recalls the lament of one Burgundian wine maker: "Our wines of lace and polish have given way to more structured wines marked with tannin and fruit."
Our vineyard manager, Deny Dudzik, sets guidelines for the cultivating crew from Strictly Vineyards. They carefully prune each vine down to two or three new bearing branches each year, manage the canopy of leaves to ensure the right amount of sunlight gets to the grapes and reduce the amount of grape bunches to ensure proper flavor intensity.
Our 2012 pinot noir was released in the fall of 2015 sporting our new label, which showcases our antique French barrel weight, circa 1910, as our new logo. This popular vintage also achieved Gold Medal status - 90 points - an exceptional rating. A dark ruby color in the glass, with aromas of crushed cherries, ripe plums, hints of white chocolate toffee.
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