When Pinot Noir 2018

Say When's When Pinot Noir 2018 is made from 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Spanish Springs Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County, California. The vineyard sits in Price Canyon, approximately 1.5 to 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and holds SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified Sustainable status. Soils at the site are stony clay loam over uplifted marine sandstone and shale, and the proximity to the ocean keeps daytime temperatures moderate with rapid cooling at night.

The grapes were hand-harvested on October 12, 2018, fermented with native yeast, and aged 10 months in neutral French oak barrels. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered. No additions are documented. Winemaker Rachel Silkowski DeAscentiis produces the wines at a shared facility in Lompoc, California.

On the nose, this wine shows earthy and meaty aromas alongside baked black plum and violet. The palate delivers cranberry and raspberry fruit with sagebrush and game notes, and a vanilla-laced finish. The cool, fog-influenced site at Spanish Springs and the long coastal growing season translate directly into firm acidity and restrained fruit weight in the glass.

Say When was officially launched in 2016 by Rachel and Michel DeAscentiis. Rachel trained at Oregon State University and worked as assistant winemaker at Loring Wine Company in Lompoc before starting her own label. The operation sources exclusively from small family-owned vineyards across the Central Coast, working with organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming operations.