We were tickled pink at the prospect of producing an exciting 2023 Pinot Noir rosé, considering we had sufficient crop from our Hammer Olsen vineyard to make it happen. This vineyard is divided into two main fields, with the southeastern block further divided into five Pinot Noir blocks, each with its own unique clone: FPS 15, originally sourced from Martini Vineyard in Napa, two field selections from Chalone Vineyards in Soledad, ENTAV115 from Burgundy and FPS 4, originally from Pommard in Burgundy. In the past, we made an exciting rosé from the Chalone blocks, and we thought it was the clone that contributed to its exceptional quality. We discovered that other clonal selections in this field also produced fantastic rosé when we expanded our production. We're now convinced that it's the heavier soil in this section, with a high clay content that keeps the moisture intact until mid-summer. The resulting wines are aromatic, with a lovely acidity and a lingering finish. The harvest of the Hammer Olsen Pinot took place over two days in early October.

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