Enfield Wine Co. - Pretty Horses, Santa Rosa, California (2020)

TASTING NOTES

A wine that celebrates the new style of California, a light, refreshing core, mineral-driven while still retaining a rich, plush texture. Cacao and spices are balanced by a full cherry fruit and smoothly refined tannin, rock salt, star anise and umami.

50% Whole Cluster. A blend of Spanish varieties from the Rorick Heritage Vineyard, Shake Ridge Ranch and Heron Lake Vineyard. 

The grapes were partially de-stemmed into open top fermenters where the grapes were gently foot tread or punched down no more than once a day during a native yeast fermentation. The wine was aged for 11 months in a combination of 500L and 225L French oak barrels, including 10% new.

Enfield Wine Co. is the family project of John Lockwood and Amy Seese. Driven by soil first and foremost, Enfield Wine Co. seeks out vineyards that possess a distinct and powerful sense of place – across region, grape variety, and vine age. Working only with small vineyards and independent growers, every step of the process is guided by the intent to maximize this character of terroir. Grapes are harvested for balance and the wines are all given the chance to ferment naturally. John started Enfield Wine Co. in 2010 as small side-project while still working at Failla, and in 2013 took the plunge with Enfield as a full time project.

The lineup of wines extends from fresh, mineral driven everyday wines, to quirky “off the beaten path” vineyards and varietals, and age-worthy wines of elegance and power from classic regions of California. Each has its own story to tell.