**BURNSIDE ROAD PINOT NOIR**

*Dark and Savory. Earthy and Spicy. Delicate Floral Notes.*

In 1988, John and Terri Balletto, who were in the vegetable business at the time, decided to purchase land in the Sebastopol Hills for winter vegetable cultivation. John grew up in Sebastopol and had a real fondness for the properties off of Burnside Road and it just so happened that apple farmer, Darrel Hurst, who owned Twin Hills Apple Ranch was selling some parcels in that area. The timing turned out to be perfect. The Balletto family farmed vegetables on this land for a few years but realized that this beautiful hillside ranch would be better suited for grapes. Fellow farmer Warren Dutton confirmed this decision, and this led them to planting their first 20 acres of grapes in 1994. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, some Pinot Gris too! Always an experimental farmer, John even decided to try 5 rows of Merlot. It was too cold for the Merlot, so that was pulled out and more Pinot Gris was put in. All the grapes were sold to a local winery. Then in 2001, they had their produce packing facility permitted to be a winery and brought in the first grapes – Burnside Road Chardonnay and Burnside Road Pinot Noir for their own label – enough for about 300 cases each. That was the beginning of the Balletto Vineyards brand!

**EMERSON BLOCK PINOT NOIR**

*Opens with Ripe Cherry and Dark Chocolate. Spicy Sandalwood. Earthy Aromas.*

Though, when discussing Burnside Road, it’s impossible not to mention a certain small one-acre vineyard nestled within the heart of this vineyard, the Emerson block. The Emerson family purchased this property as a weekend retreat and as wine lovers, decided they would like to plant vines on their property and approached John. Of course, John said yes. Jacqueline Balletto, their oldest daughter, has fond memories of this vineyard as she asked John if she could take care of this parcel for one year during high school to learn more about farming. She pulled leaves and suckered vines with care and kept a special eye on the vineyard block, reporting everything she saw to John while earning a healthy respect for all that farmers and Balletto Vineyards employees do to tend to the vines.

**SEXTON HILL VINEYARD PINOT NOIR**

*Juicy Acidity. Dark Fruit. Black Tea. Medium Weight.*

In the spring of 2008 (a shocking 15 years ago now) John Balletto walked into my makeshift office in the winery lab. “I just bought vineyard land,” he said. “I’d like you to design it with me.” I didn’t know at that moment how incredible this winegrowing property was. I soon would. I rushed out, and as I stood on the hilltop overlooking what would become Sexton Hill, I still remember my excitement. This is it. World Class.

**18 BARREL PINOT NOIR**

*18 Special Barrels Making A Statement on Sebastopol Hills*

It all started back in 2013 with an (almost total crash and burn) experiment to see how high of a percentage whole cluster – meaning the entire intact cluster including stems – we could add to the fermenter. Needless to say, the wine was wildly different than any other. The high percentage of whole cluster added both tannins and a lifted “carbonic” fruit spice from juice fermenting inside intact berries. A fun and delicious wine that was, quite simply, difficult. Too intense, too wild, tart and almost painfully tannic, but truly awesome. Skipping ahead six months to blending, it became apparent just how different it was. The final blend maxed out at 18 total barrels, and the rest is history.

**BCD VINEYARD PINOT NOIR**

*Bright & Dark - Simultaneously. Mocha. Earth. Fresh Cherries.*

With its rolling hills and ancient Valley Oaks surrounded by rows of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Syrah, BCD vineyard is one of those perfect, peaceful places in the world. And every year, the estate produces a dark and intense Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. It opens with bright cassis and dark berries in equal measure. There’s a touch of earthy coffee and a nice smattering of baking spices. In the mouth, the wine shows impressive restraint and elegance with a balanced texture and notable acidity that holds all the elements together and keeps the wine fresh, bright and ready for the next sip. It’s the kind of wine where the bottle is empty long before expected.

**CIDER RIDGE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR**

*Delicate yet Intense. Bright Aromatics. Red Berries. Spice.*

Cider Ridge Pinot Noir hit its stylistic stride during the last eight vintages, with dark spices, bright fruit and a fuller texture and mouthfeel than its Sebastopol Hills neighbors on Burnside and Sexton. The Chardonnay, from the first vintage on, has showcased lush fruit, lifted honeysuckle and a taught dose of acidity and soft tannins. These two wines are benchmarks in the Balletto portfolio with consistent and welcoming profiles. They are the wines we love to show off.

**WINERY BLOCK PINOT NOIR**

*Booming out of the Glass. Dark Berry Liqueur. Earthiness.*

The Balletto family bottled the first Winery Block Pinot Noir back in 2007, and the consistency, charm and elegance have held throughout the years. We pulled the 2009 Winery Block from the library to pour to top sommeliers from around the nation, and it’s hard to imagine a 15-year-old pinot showing such youth and vibrancy. Full of bright and savory aromatics, it was a hit across the board. That is the true pleasure of selecting only the most distinct and perfect lots of grapes to put under the Balletto label.