Goldeneye’s Split Rail Vineyard is located in the Anderson Valley AVA of California’s Mendocino County. Located in this ocean-side AVA the vineyard is, of course, influenced by maritime climate. But, according to the winery, this vineyard also enjoys a varied topography of slopes and benchlands. Split Rail is planted to 16 different blocks of Pinot Noir and nine different clones.
About the Wine: The Goldeneye 2015 Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir is made up of 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested from Goldeneye’s Split Rail Vineyard located in California’s Anderson Valley AVA. The wine was aged in 100% French oak Burgundy-style barrels (65% new, 35% neutral) for 16 months.
13.9% ABV
Flavor Profile: Open the bottle of the Goldeneye 2015 Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir and find aromas of oak, blackberry, cherry, basil, and a hint of chocolate. This Pinot Noir presents a dusty maroon on the pour, settling into the glass just the same hue, fading out to a pink-meets-orange aura. Initial aromas from the glass are of a dank oak cellar, wet roses, hints of red fruits—it is a very light and subtle nose on first inhales. Swirl, swirl and add richness—voluptuous black cherries decadent milk chocolate, sharp acidity of raspberries, and still that bit of bramble and that lovely over-lying floral scent.
The palate of the Goldeneye 2015 Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir is clean with a medium body, a kiss of tannin, and and underline of oak. There’s consistently solid acidity working from start to finish. Dominant flavors are of cherry, cola, oak, spearmint, chocolate, bramble—but note these flavors are all very light, very subtle.
The finish is clean, dry, and gives an after-breath reminiscent of a morning in the vineyard.
Food Pairing: I paired the Goldeneye 2015 Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir with a simple salmon salad. This wine is so light and subtle that it could easily pair well with a multitude of meals. But I do recommend choosing a simple dish like this so as not to overpower this delicate wine. What I loved was that, throughout the evening, this Pinot Noir continued to open up, giving way to more beautiful floral aromas and flavors, providing a softer mouthfeel, and uplifting that sense of terroir in the back-breath and aftertaste.
More Info: I received the Goldeneye 2015 Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noiras a sample for review. (Cheers, Kristy!) Price: $84. For more information about Goldeneye, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Goldeneye Winery website.
BriscoeBites officially accepts samples as well as conducts on-site and online interviews. Want to have your wine, winery or tasting room featured? Please visit the Sample Policy page where you can contact me directly. Cheers!
