EDEN RIFT

Under vine since 1849, Eden Rift is one of the oldest continually producing estate vineyards in California. In its pre 1940’s heyday, it was considered one of the five great American wine estates: restoring this unique part of American winemaking history to its halcyon days has been the endeavour of Christian Pillsbury since he took ownership in 2016. We are delighted to have been in direct partnership with Eden Rift since 2018.

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vivid & energetic CALIFORNIA Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Eden Rift's extreme terraces and diverse terroir include 90 acres of Pinot Noir and 22 acres of Chardonnay, the two varieties that present the purest expression of the Gavilan Valley's stark, dramatic soils. Winemaker Cory Waller produces a variety of cuveés from these star varieties: the flagship Estate cuveé, the exquisite hillside parcels Terraces cuvée, and a single block Lansdale Pinot Noir wine.

ESTATE CHARDONNAY | A tribute and testament to the vineyard’s natural setting as well as its meticulous farmed Chardonnay vines. This offering was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented on native yeasts, and aged in 100% French oak barrels (18% new) for 10 months. This well-balanced Chardonnay went through 100% Malolactic fermentation with battonage twice per month for 6 months.

TERRACES CHARDONNAY | This wine was selected as one of Wine Business Monthly’s “Wines that defined the year”. The Terraces Chardonnay comes from the eastern-facing, terraced T-Block. It is comprised of clones 4 & 76. Barrel fermented on native yeasts in French oak, and aged ‘sur-lie’ in barrel (20% new) for 10 months. Creamy with bright acidity, this wine displays aromas of citrus, white peach, orange cream, white flowers and minerals.

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ESTATE PINOT NOIR | Eden Rift’s flagship Pinot Noir - comprised of Dijon clones 115, 828, & 777 and block-specific conditions. Vinification includes 30% whole cluster fermentation on native yeasts. Aged 10 months in French oak (30% new), the wine is focused, age-worthy and provides the ultimate “sense of place”. Notes of savory red fruit, with crunchy cranberry, chalk, and dark cherry on the palate.

TERRACES PINOT NOIR | Eden Rift’s Terraces Pinot Noir comes from N and R blocks which are exclusively Calera clone. Both blocks are extremely low yielding with tiny clusters of very small berries. With an increased ratio of skin-to-juice, the wine has an intense, dark hue with overt black and blue tones in the bouquet. Aromas of black cherry, blueberry and baking spices exude from the glass. These notes stay true on the palate as flavors of brambleberry, cherry pit and oak carry through. Replete with acidity, the tannins are firm with an expansive attack that will allow this wine to age in the cellar.

LANSDALE BLOCK PINOT NOIR | This wine is exclusively from Q-block and is 100% Calera clone. With a south-facing exposure, this block reaches an elevation of 1,600 ft. making it the highest block on the estate. On the palate, this is concentrated and ripe, with spiced plum and blackberry fruit and earthy, floral-violet, toasty oak notes. Deep yet layered, with smooth, silky, velvety tannins that lead to a long, heavenly finish. Dark, ripe yet silky and smooth.

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CALIFORNIA'S ORIGINAL PINOT NOIR VINEYARD

Eden Rift's home is in the Cienega Valley AVA, 20 miles inland from Monterey Bay. Set in a remote, Pacific refuge located under the shadow of the Gavilan Mountain Range, the estate rests on the San Andreas Fault. The vineyard sites benefit from an ideal, temperate maritime climate thanks to the nearby Pacific Ocean, as well as calcareous, granitic, limestone and mineral-rich soils that contribute so magnificently to the cultivation of vivid and energetic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

ONE OF THE TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE WORLD

Eden Rift’s winemaker Cory Waller, spent time in Napa, Oregon, Martinborough, New Zealand, and neighbouring Calera, before joining the team at Eden Rift. A man of few words, Waller favours the fruit of vines that struggle profoundly to produce small, yet delineated yields. He prefers to allow Mother Nature to do her thing. Together, Christian and Corey have overseen a total rejuvenation of the estate, an achievement recognised by Eden Rift’s inclusion in the recent announcment of Wine & Spirits Top 100 Wineries of 2022. Their approach has placed a renewed focus on precise, terroir driven Chardonnay and Pinor Noirs, from the flagship Estate cuveés to single block wines, each crafted with Corey’s agile pursuit of elegance, length, texture and balance over power and heft.

“I think the ‘rift’ in our name is incredibly suitable. To the east we have the warmer inland influence, the North American plate, and decomposed granite. To our west we have the Pacific plate, a coastal influence with daily offshore winds like clockwork during the spring and summer months, and sedimentary soils. Those same winds allow us to be less reliant on a stronger diurnal shift for cooler nights. Together, this dichotomy of the two gives us combining characteristics that are ideal soils and climates for growing excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. There’s a reason Pinot was planted here 80 years ago; it truly is a hidden gem that I hope we can open up to the wine world.”

Cory Waller, Eden Rift Winemaker