2021 Pinot Noir Casteel
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- Fruit source: Bethel Heights 114, Lewman 667, Lewman 777, Justice 667
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- Harvest date: 9/17/2021 through 9/28/2021
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- Grapes at harvest:Brix: 23 pH: 3.13 TA:6.6
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- Finished wine: Alcohol 13.1 %, pH: 3.5 TA: 5.6 g/L
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- Barrel aged 11 months in French oak. 40% new barrels
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- Cases produced: 415
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- Bottled unfined on August 29, 2022
For many years Bethel Heights was recognized primarily for our limited bottlings of distinctive vineyard and block designated Pinot noir wines from our estate vineyard. In 2002 we took a new path and produced our first Casteel Pinot Noir, a blend of barrels from several different blocks, selected to express the epitome of that particular vintage at Bethel Heights. This is our only Pinot noir that carries our family name rather than a place name, which gives us considerable poetic license to select our favorite barrels from each vintage.
WINEMAKER NOTES
The 2021 vintage was a moment of reflection on that the Casteel blend, as the components hadn’t changed for a number of years, having focused primarily on the Western side of our Estate. I’m not sure what compelled me to change it, but with Lewman in the fold, it felt like a moment in time to see what could be accomplished between our now 3 estate vineyards. The 2021 Casteel Pinot Noir is the result of many hours spent and the blending table with the team in an effort to show the best of what the 2021 vintage had to offer.
ACCOLADES
99 Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Casteel comes from vines on the western side of the property, planted in 1992, 1996 and 1997. It's expressive and dynamic, offering surprising depth of flavor for its elegant frame. Medium ruby, it has layered scents of pomegranate, rhubarb and red cherry with accents of garrigue, aniseed, mossy bark and tea leaves. The medium-bodied palate is highly concentrated, its deep well of fruit streaked with touches of iron-like mineral character. It has powerful yet finely grained tannins and bursts of mouthwatering acidity that call you in again for another sip on the very long finish. This thrilling Pinot Noir offers just about everything you could want from this grape: alluring perfume, complex layers of spice and earth, harmonious structure and fantastic length.
94 Wine Spectator
Capturing the essence of Eola-Amity, this Pinot is deeply structured yet supple and generous, with raspberry and blueberry flavors accented by wet stone, clove and other dusky spices. Finishes with broad-shouldered yet polished tannins. Drink now through 2032.
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