Goldeneye Winery

Goldeneye Winery
9200 Highway 128
Philo, California
USA 95466
Phone: 800-208-0438
http://www.duckhorn.com/

Contact: Dan and Margaret Duckhorn
Email: [email protected]

The Goldeneye winery is dedicated to the production of world class Pinot Noir wines. It is located in the heart of Anderson Valley along the migratory pathway of the common Goldeneye duck.

In 1990, after nearly fifteen years of making world-class Bordeaux style wines, Dan and Margaret Duckhorn embraced their growing passion for Pinot Noir. Their vision for Goldeneye was simple: to craft a distinctively California Pinot Noir of equal stature to their acclaimed Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot.

Dan and Margaret approached this goal with the same care and attention to detail for which they had become respected in the Napa Valley. Over the next six years, the Duckhorns experimented with fruit from the Russian River, Sonoma, Carneros and Anderson Valley appellations. The Duckhorns were aware that Pinot Noir, an elusive and challenging grape, has the remarkable ability to reflect its terroir, more than many varietals.

This awareness led them to narrow their exploration to Mendocino's Anderson Valley. With cool ocean fog, clay soil, and long, mild days, the Anderson Valley appellation had all the ingredients for producing world-class Pinot Noir. In 1996, the first 80-acre estate vineyard was selected, and the winery was officially christened after the Goldeneye duck whose migratory path crosses the region.

In 1997, Goldeneye harvested its first grapes, a modest seven tons of estate fruit, yielding 375 cases of wine. After a decade of research, planning and experimentation, Goldeneye's inaugural vintage was announced in March of 2000. Since then, the winery has grown to include four estate vineyards, planted to 149 vine acres. These vineyards are planted with 19 different clonal varieties and enjoy the benefits of varying microclimates.

By focusing on the careful cultivation of its estate vineyards, Goldeneye has been able to grow, while still remaining true to its philosophy of being a small, quality-driven winery. To maintain the integrity of each vineyard block and to allow for flexibility in the final blend, Goldeneye harvests, barrel ages and vinifies each lot separately. In addition, Goldeneye practices crop sensitivity with vertical shoot positioning and a dedication to low yields.

Under the guidance of winemaker Zach Rasmuson, vineyard practices have been further refined to benefit the estate program. A Pinot Noir veteran, Zach brings his love of farming and his obsession with the varietal to Goldeneye. A strong advocate of the Anderson Valley and its potential to produce some of the finest Pinot Noirs in the world, Zach underscores his belief that quality is determined in the vineyard with a gentle, minimalist approach to winemaking.

Zach has worked hard to define the evolving style of Goldeneye. With yields as low as two tons per acre, Goldeneye cultivates extracted, elegant fruit. The goal is to fashion a wine that expresses the depth and character of the Anderson Valley.

In winemaking, Zach focuses on achieving a balance between fruit, extraction and oak. Working closely with the finest coopers to identify wood sources and blends that suit Goldeneye's style, Zach generally uses between 70 to 100 percent new oak from the world's finest coopers. Wood is sourced primarily from Allier, although Zach works with Vosges, Nevers and Bertanges as well. The toasting program is primarily medium, with some toasted heads.

Founded on a commitment to quality, Goldeneye brings the tradition of viticultural excellence established by Duckhorn Vineyards in the Napa Valley to the Pinot Noirs of the Anderson Valley. With each new vintage, Goldeneye continues its evolution toward becoming one of the world's premier producers of Pinot Noir.

Winemaker: Zach Rasmuson

Update Winery information  Submit new wines to be posted  Wineries of America