Russian River Valley is home to some of the finest Pinot Noir fruit in the country, as is displayed in MacRostie’s Nightwing Vineyard Swan Clone Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir does so well in the area due to the diverse micro-climates, with densely foggy, cool evenings and mornings, a range of soil compositions, and warm, sunshine-filled days. MacRostie’s Nightwing Vineyard lies in the Petaluma Gap sub-region of RRV, an area that enjoys the most influence from the Pacific due to its location near the coast. Elevations for the vineyard lie at 1200 feet above sea level, creating a refrigerated sunshine situation as sunny days meld with constantly cool temperatures.

2022 marks the inaugural vintage of the winery’s single clone bottling from the vineyard, for which they offer a Calera clone and Swan clone. Various clones of Pinot Noir are typically brought together in a blend to create a harmonious wine. However, allowing a single clone to shine creates a unique experience with the fruit, bringing an elevated expression of the variety into play. The Swan clone is named for Joseph Swan, a pioneer of winemaking in the Russian River Valley. The wine shines as an example of the clone with luscious blackberry, black plum, wild raspberry, earthy truffle, and woody herb notes. The palate is lush, lengthy, and dense, with the ideal balance of tannin with freshness. While the wine is bold enough to enjoy with rich poultry, game, or beef dishes, it is easily as enjoyable simply on its own.