The 2023 growing season was the coolest season since 2011 and one of the longest, latest growing seasons in the 40+ years of Fogarty Winery. We began the harvest on September 25 with the Sauvignon Blanc from Gist Ranch and began to pick Pinot Noir later that week. The estate Chardonnay harvest didn’t begin till October 19th. We finished with our Nebbiolo on November 14th, one of the latest picks we have ever made! The wines are bright and aromatic with good depth and intensity. It is an elegant vintage that should age well. The wines will benefit from some additional time in the bottle as they are showing somewhat reticently in their youth. This seems to be a very strong vintage for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, especially the old vines on the estate – Rapley Trail and Langley Hill in particular. "The 2023 Pinot Noir Razorback Vineyard is the lowest-elevation Pinot Noir on the estate, planted in 1986. It's a very tightly coiled, earthy wine that is a little hesitant to reveal itself. Light and elegant, the 2023's fruit is pushed very far into the background, leaving an echo of wet soil, iron and attractive savory undertones." - Billy Norris, Vinous 92 points
