Lady of the Sunshine Pinot Noir Bassi 2024
Lady of the SunshineGrape: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2024
Type: Red
Sourced from the extreme, maritime-influenced slopes of the Bassi Vineyard in Avila Valley, this cold-climate Pinot Noir sits just one mile from the Pacific Ocean. The biodynamically farmed site yields tiny, concentrated clusters that capture the raw energy of the coastline. Winemaker Gina Giugni employs a gentle touch, utilizing 50% whole-cluster inclusion during a native-yeast fermentation in open-top vats to coax out delicate, structural spice. Following 10 months of quiet maturation in neutral French oak barrels, the resulting wine balances crunchy red fruit with earthy rusticity.
In the glass, it shows a pale, translucent ruby hue with bright violet edges. The nose is highly detailed and expressive, immediately revealing aromas of wild raspberry, blood orange zest, dried sage, and a distinct, briny hint of sea breeze. On the palate, the whole-cluster stems provide a fine-grained, "vertical" tannin structure that gives the wine an excellent architectural frame. Bracing coastal acidity cuts cleanly through the delicate fruit layers, creating an athletic, weightless mouthfeel. It finishes dry and incredibly savory, leaving a persistent, chalky impression of crushed seashells and forest floor.