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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
1 Mill Road Pinot Noirtext
91POINTS
16¾/20

1 Mill Road Pinot Noir 2019

Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaOne Mill Road is the next incarnation of the Enns family, David and Cynthia, former owners of Laughing Stock Estate, which rests a few kilometres north of their new venture. Cynthia Enns grows the fruit, and David makes the wine, although somehow I think the lines are more blurred as time moves on. It all begins in the vineyard they call Home Block. Born out of glacial lake formed bluffs, the crescent shape site (planted on an abandoned pear orchard overlooking the original village of Naramata) tilts southwest to catch the maximum amount of heat while maintaining constant airflow. The silty, calcareous loam is perfectly suited to making high quality pinot from a single Dijon 115 clone. The fruit was handpicked in two passes, October 7 and 15, hand sorted and whole fermented berry with 20 percent clusters. The primary fermentation was in large French Oak vats before ageing 50/50 in the vats and neutral oak barrels. The year was challenging and cool, and the yields were lower than normal. In the end, 1 Mill Road opens with a pale red/orange hue, with subtle dried cherry, savoury licorice, and hints of earth and leather. The slightly darker ripe fruit tones take me to Sonoma Coast.Tasted: 01 May 2021Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$50.00750mlmail list, select restaurants and retailers
Producer: 1 Mill Road VineyardsDistributors: Winery Direct
Grape: Pinot Noir