Kynsi Pinot Noir Precious Stone Stone Corral Vineyard 2013

The Stone Corral Vineyard is planted on a southeast slope on the west side of the Edna Valley which has an east/west orientation opening up to the Pacific Ocean from Morro Bay and Pismo Beach. Approximately 120 to 300 feet above sea level, the climate is strongly influenced by the ocean providing ideal temperate growing conditions for Pinot Noir. Early spring warming, mild summer temperatures and late arriving cold fall temperatures and rain provide a long growing season for the development of rich color, concentrated and complex flavors. Soil profiles vary between blocks from sand, sandy loam, loamy sand, pebbly sandy clay loam, all fine angular blocky , including decomposing sandstone layers and numerous fossil rocks. The soils are well drained and marine in origin, resulting in an elegant Pinot Noir with extraordinary attributes.

This gem is a blend of a few precious, select barrels hailing from the finest blocks of Stone Corral Vineyard. Offers blue-toned fruit on the nose and a pretty bouquet of black raspberry, sandstone, marzipan and wild lupine flowers. Opulent, yet delicate on the palate, with velvety layers of cola nut, cherry, dried herbs and pecan sandie cookies.

Wine analysis – 13.7% Alcohol, .69 TA, 3.5pH

- A barrel select Stone Corral Vineyard bottling, utilizing the finest blocks and clones of the 2013 vintage
- Blend of clones 115, 777 and 667 on 101-14 and 3309 rootstalks
- Hand harvested, cold fruit from night picks during the month of September 2013
- Yield about 2 tons per acre between 23.8 and 24.5 ° Brix
- Destemmed with nearly 100 % whole berries remaining
- Fermented in small open top tanks
- 4 day cold soak, average 14 day fermentation, peak temperature 83°
- Hand punched down several times daily as needed
- Pressed off just dry, tank settled then racked to barrels
- Aged in small French oak barrels for 18 months
- Once the fresh wine is transferred from the press pan, all moving of the wine is done with inert gas pressure.
When handling the wine, care is taken at all opportunities to avoid shear.

"This bottling comes from the best blocks and barrels from this single vineyard, co-owned by a number of Edna Valley luminaries. The result is stunning, with baked raspberry, strawberry, maple, and peppery bacon aromas comprising a spicy, exotic nose. Black plum fruit melds with white pepper and crushed herbs, diving into tangy strawberry and sandalwood incense notes on the finish. - Matt Kettmann"
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine (April 1st 2017), 95 pts

Kynsi Winery is a family run operation focused on producing distinguished wines in limited production.  Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah and unique red blends are carefully sourced from highly regarded cool climate vineyards along with Pinot Noir from their Estate Stone Corral Vineyard in the Edna Valley. 

Owner/Winemakers Don and Gwen Othman have been immersed in the Central Coast wine industry for over 30 years with their specialty wine equipment business Bulldog Manufacturing.  Don is widely recognized for his creation of The Bulldog Pup in 1986, a gas pressure racking wand that transfers wine from barrels without agitation or oxidation.  While originally designed to gently transfer delicate Pinot Noir, “The Pup” has become an indispensable cellar tool for achieving superior clean rackings preserving richness and complexity in high quality barrel aged wines.  They continue to manufacture and distribute the Bulldog Pup worldwide today.   

Over the years, Bulldog Manufacturing provided the opportunity to work alongside some of the most respected winemakers in the industry. Don and Gwen gleaned volumes of diverse winemaking philosophies that helped lay the foundation from which their own distinctive winemaking philosophy emerged.  Life is an evolution and in 1995 Don and Gwen founded Kynsi Winery located in the heart of the Edna Valley on California’s Central Coast. Today they are joined by their daughter Kala who grew up in the business and son-in-law Michael, each sharing the vision and values on which Kynsi has been built.  Together, they all work very closely to maintain the quality and consistency of the Kynsi portfolio.

Their Story:

When the winery was first started in the old dairy, it had been decades since it had ceased operations and the grounds had been cared for.  There was a gopher problem, and not your average garden infestation but a plague of historic proportions.  In search of wisdom, it was discovered that barn owls are gopher’s #1 predator.  Astonishingly,  a nesting pair can process up to 40 gophers a night when feeding their young.

Barn owls are not nest builders, so 2 wooden boxes were installed in the old barn and within a couple of weeks there was a nesting pair.  They had 4 owlets that first spring and wiped out the also breeding gophers.  As the pellet pile grew under their boxes, nature was being put back into balance.  The owls single handedly saved the ranch and the wise female in her preening pose was chosen to represent the brand, a pedestal duly earned.  To honor family heritage, they chose the Finnish word “Kynsi” meaning talon to go with the beloved barn owl.