Still Young and Only Getting Better

Wilde Farm WinesWilde Farm Winery was actually a horse farm long before it became a winery. In fact, the 2013 Wilde Farm Pinot Noir Donnelly Vineyard is only the second vintage ever produced of these wines. It’s a collaboration between proprietor Loren Grossman and winemaker Pax Mahle. Even though it’s only the second vintage ever produced, Pax Mahle is not a newcomer to winemaking. He first started producing his Pax Label in 2000, and now produces Agharta and Wind Gap wines as well. All his wines have a very different style to them. With Pax and Agharta being the much richer and powerful wines in the group, the Wind Gap and Wilde Farm wines come from cooler coastal areas of Sonoma and tend to be lighter and lower in alcohol. 

Wilde Farm began as a horse farm in 1907 and was purchased about 20 years ago by Loren Grossman. However, the first vintage of Wilde Farm Wine wasn’t produced until 2012, where their Pinot Noir, from the Donnelly Creek Vineyard in Anderson Valley, scored 94 points from Antonio Galloni. Now in only their second vintage, they have already received a 95 point score from Galloni and only seem to be getting better. 

I recently planned on having a relaxing night at home. I figured nothing would go better than the 2013 Wilde Farm Pinot Noir, because I wanted something light, low in alcohol and that would work well with food. Even though the wine is light, there was a lot of ripe fruit, almost Burgundian in style - something you would not expect from California. I look forward to seeing where this wine goes in the future. It definitely has great aging potential. 

“The 2013 Pinot Noir Donnelly Creek Vineyard bursts from the glass with exotic red berries, mint, crushed flowers, spices and pine. Vinification with 50% whole clusters and aging in new oak contribute to the wine's totally translucent personality. Hints of orange peel and rose petal add intrigue and nuance. Weightless, perfumed and super-expressive, Wilde Farm's Pinot Noir is superb.” -- 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media