Claiborne and Churchill Runestone Pinot Noir 2020 Red Wine

Claiborne and Churchill Runestone Pinot Noir 2020

Edna Valley, CA

95 pts. Wine Enthusiast:

"This producer's boldest bottling always delivers power with elegance.  This bottling starts with aromas of smoked meat, baked cherry and singed chaparral on the nose.  The palate is rich with hints of smoked, salty meat and porcini flavors, as a baked strawberry and cracked pepper form the core." - Matt Kettmann

Truly a family-run winery, these folks are very enthusiastic about their winemaking. Since 1983 they have been making wonderful Edna Valley wines (of course we’re partial to their Pinots). Interestingly, their winery is the first “straw bale” building ever constructed in California. The 16” thick walls are filled with rice straw, which is a perfect insulator!

The “Runestone” is a delicious, barrel-select Pinot made from 3 different Edna Valley vineyards; a mixture of volcanic and sandy soil, great for creating stellar, complex-flavored Pinot Noirs! This is one of those small–production gems we love to unearth! Just 159 cases made.

FROM THE WINERY

We give the name “Runestone” to the Pinot Noir we consider the very best of the vintage. To do this, our winemaking team carefully tastes and grades every barrel of Pinot Noir in the cellar in order to decide which eight-barrel blend best represents the essence of “Runestone.” We want it to be a rich and robust Pinot Noir while also showing the subtle and seductive nature of this fascinating grape. Aromas of crushed red raspberries, a kiss of sweet oak; savory, sweet and spicy at the same time. This is a wine that you can age for four to six more years and be glad you did! Serve it with prime rib, roasted rack of lamb, bold cheeses and charcuterie.

Appellation: Edna Valley

Vineyards: 35% Spanish Springs Vineyard, 35% Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, 30% Twin Creeks Vineyard

Clones: 943, Pommard, 667, 115, 2 A

Aging: 35% New Oak, aged 10 months in French oak barrels

Alcohol: 14.1%

Cases Produced - 159