2022 Anthill Farms - Pinot Noir Mendocino Comptche Ridge (750ml)

Anthill Farms got its start in the early 2000s when a trio of winemakers who had cut their teeth at Williams Selyem decided to strike out on their own, sourcing fruit from remote, cool-climate vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino counties. The winery, based in Healdsburg, has built its reputation on letting each site express itself with minimal manipulation, favoring vineyards that sit apart from the usual clusters of plantings in favor of wilder, more isolated terrain.

Comptche Ridge Vineyard lies deep in Mendocino County, owned and farmed organically by the Weir family and completely encircled by towering redwoods and Douglas fir rather than neighboring vines. The site is dry-farmed on a fine, sandy-clay Franciscan soil, and its isolation supports a notably biodiverse ecosystem that seems to carry through into the finished wine. The Pinot Noir here is a blend of Swan and Pommard clones, native yeast fermented with roughly half whole clusters, then aged about fifteen months in French oak, a portion of it new.

Tart cranberry, wild strawberry, and crushed stone lead the way, joined by notes of mushroom and bramble that reflect the vineyard's forested surroundings. The palate stays medium-bodied and well balanced, with enough structure to reward a few years in the cellar. Try it with grilled portobello mushrooms, herb-roasted pork, or aged Manchego.