Pinot Noir 2023, West of One

Put your thinking cap on — this is a complex, yet approachable, Pinot with classic aromas of ripe strawberry, cherry & cranberry. The extremely long and perfectly cool 2023 vintage in the Russian River Valley helped evolve some of those classic Pinot Noir red fruit flavors into blue and black fruits; we get reminders of blackberry pie, blueberry tart, fresh cooked cranberry sauce.

Due to the patience in the vineyard, quality hang time, and resulting fruit complexity, West of One was able to increase their use of new French oak barrels. This wine is fruit forward with an intricate arrangement of classic red fruits and darker late season fruits. While the wine is exceptional on it’s own, there are some well-integrated baking spice notes and earthy umami notes, begging for a food pairing.

• 100% hand picked, hand sorted and destemmed
• Cold soak for 3.5 days, with fermentation beginning on day 5
• 100% Native Yeast
• Gentle punchdowns, with occasional pump overs through the fermentation process to allow for full integration of tannin structure, flavor and color compounds, and the overall complexity of this wine
• Aged in French oak barrels (38% new, 14% once fill, and 48% “neutral”) for 10 months
• Bottled without fining or filtration

About the Winery

Nick and Mandy, aka Neeks and Fish, are 4th generation California grape growers and winemakers. Their great, great grandparents owned and developed a world-class and world-famous vineyard on the top of Spring Mountain in Napa, just over the hill from where West of One is today. Grape growing and winemaking is in their blood, innovation is in their spirit, and they are artists, creators, and entrepreneurs at heart. 

Since purchasing their vineyard in 2011, they always had a vision of making great wine from their little home ranch, a four acre, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir vineyard. The Keresey vineyard is what most would consider “old vine Pinot Noir” — their vines were planted almost 30 years ago, which for RRV Triple 7 Pinot, is pretty old! The vines were planted by renowned viticulturist, Saralee Kunde. Many years ago, the Keresey's began making "garage wine” with the family, even enlisting their kids to help gently stomp the clusters. And that's not all. Year after year, siblings, parents, uncles, aunts and close friends were somehow inspired to show up and harvest.

They eventually plateaued; it was time to elevate their game, so they started throwing around the idea of creating a brand. In 2021, West of One was officially born. The name refers to all those parts of the California coastline that are in fact west of highway one. It's a part of the state that holds a special place in Nick & Mandy's hearts. It's where they met, it’s where they got married, and it’s where they love to escape, both in person and in their hearts & souls.

As Californians we all love the coast, we all love exploring the natural beauty, fresh air and cool coastal days. We love searching for polished urchin shells, getting tickled by an anemone, harvesting Dungies, Lings and Kings, and simply walking on a pier and enjoying some Monterey Bay calamari, fish tacos or halibut fish & chips. We all love the coast, we all could use more of it. West of One is an homage to California’s amazing coast, and was created to inspire and enhance that West of One feeling!

Neeks and Fish were both actively and vocally involved in all aspects of design from glass/bottle choice, logo design, cork quality and layout and web design, to middle of the night harvests, weekend trips to the winery and involvement on bottling days. This is a Keresey Family affair!