WINERY After Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic Schramsberg property in Napa Valley, their son, Hugh Davies, initiated a red wine program using the family’s estate vineyards on Diamond Mountain. Starting in the 1990s, Hugh undertook the replanting of the home property to red Bordeaux varietals leading to the J. Davies Cabernet program; he later partnered with North Coast growers to launch Davies Vineyards Pinot Noirs.

WINE The Davies family, of Schramsberg Vineyards and Davies Vineyards in the Napa Valley, is pleased to release its fourteenth vintage of Ferrington Vineyards Pinot Noir. The family’s experience with Pinot Noir dates back to 1967, when Jack and Jamie Davies first used this elegant red varietal to make their inaugural vintage of Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine. Over the 57 years following that first use, Schramsberg’s winemakers have built long-lasting relationships with some of the best Pinot Noir growers and vineyards along the North Coast. Developing upon this passion, history, and experience, second-generation Vintner Hugh Davies, along with Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga and J.P. Pierce present this vineyard-designate Pinot Noir wine from the 2022 vintage.

The Ferrington Vineyards property, located approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco and 17 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, is in a fertile pocket of land found at the edge of the northeastern foothills of Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. Between 360 and 440 feet above sea level, the vines utilize over six feet of Boontling and Pinole loam soil, sustainable farming practices, and deficit irrigation to produce approximately 2.5 tons per acre of bright, complex fruit with great balance. Cool, foggy nights and steadily warming days provide a long, even growing season which delivers mature fruit depth with a vibrant, acidic backbone.

The 2022 season was the third year in a row of drought conditions across the north coast. Dryer conditions led to balanced vines with smaller canopies and lighter crop levels. Harvest began around mid-September after recordbreaking heat waves around Labor Day Weekend. The harvested fruit developed into wines of delicious concentration and acidity.

After careful fruit selection the grapes are gently pressed and aged for 15 months in approximately 22% new French oak barrels prior to bottling.

This fuller-bodied Pinot Noir opens with red and black cherry, boysenberry, chocolate soil, vanilla, nutmeg and anise. Textural, corduroy-like tannins gently coat the palate, balanced by acidity and roundness. – Stacy Briscoe, WE 2023