Address
316 West Geer St, Suite A, Durham, NC 27701
Hours
Mon. Closed
Tue. - Thu. 11am - 9pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am - 10pm
Sun. 11am - 8pm
Downtown Durham's neighborhood bottle shop and wine bar offering curbside pickup, local delivery, and shipping to 43 states.
Free Delivery in Durham & Chapel Hill
with a $120 Minimum Order.
Raleigh, Cary, Hillsborough and Surrounding
zip codes minimum $200.
We cannot ship to ND, SD, NH, UT, MS, PA, or KY. email info@louelladurham.com for shipping options
AROMA
preserved cherries, red rose, forest floor
FLAVOR
black raspberry, sour plum, mineral
FOOD PAIRINGS
wild mushroom pizza, adobo pork shoulder, tea-smoked wild salmon
VINIFICATION
Fruit was hand-harvested in early-Sept. and vigorously sorted. All lots were fermented in open top tanks with 10% whole clusters. Regular cap management was performed over a two-week primary fermentation. Aged for 8-months in a mix of neutral French oak and stainless steel barrels.
SITE
A selection of premier Mendocino County vineyards were selected for this wine, with an emphasis on dry-farming, older vines, and sustainable viticulture. Pinot Noir clones 115, 667, 777, 2A, 838, Pommard clone, and Martini play a part in the blend. The goal was to capture the unique character of this region defined by the proximate Pacific Ocean, coastal redwoods, and river valleys.
NOTES
The challenges of the 2020 vintage were formidable but not impossible. Pandemic aside, it was the widespread fires that necessitated loose knees and a steady temperament. Several of our vineyards were exposed to periods of hazy air from fires in neighboring counties. The distance from these fires ultimately proved to be the saving grace. The lab kept sending us back clean samples, and theories emerged about vineyards being relatively safe provided the fires originated far away. This was universally the case in Mendocino's Anderson and Redwood Valleys. To be extra cautious, we triaged every load of fruit and employed winemaking protocols honed in the 2008 fire vintage. The 2020 is stuffed with barrels of $5000+ per ton Pinot fruit from renowned deep-end designates, providing the complex, blue flower power. A new source in the Redwood Valley gives the wine its core of juicy red fruit. The marriage of these singular yet disparate vineyards makes for an expressive wine that will surprise people.
What does Mendocino County mean? The Pinots are lighter on their feet than their Sonoma cousins. Sandier soils and Northern latitudes produce floral tones not found in the wines further south. Purple flowers + black raspberries are two signatures. The other feature is connected to the vast redwood forests found here. There are coniferous notes of pine needles or underbrush in the wines. In sum, it is the melange of flowers, fruit, and forest that defines this terroir.
LouElla is Downtown Durham's neighborhood bottle shop, bar, and event space offering curated wine, craft beer, and fortified selections from family operated producers. The business takes its name and mission from owner and proprietor Campbell Davis's Great Aunt LouElla who was much beloved for her warmth, hospitality, and generous spirit. Whether we are serving you at the bar or helping you pick that perfect bottle to host your celebration, our mission is to share LouElla's hospitality with the community.
Campbell Davis
Owner & Manager
For Cam Davis, LouElla is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality and beverage industry. Cam has successfully managed some of Durham’s finest locally and nationally recognized establishments, including Hutchin's Garage, Guglhupf, Rue Cler, and Durham Catering Company. He brings a wealth of wine and beverage knowledge, not only from his extensive restaurant experience, but also from his tenure as Durham Sales Manager for wine distributor Bordeaux, Fine and Rare.
Hours
Mon. Closed
Tue. - Thu. 11am - 9pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am - 10pm
Sun. 11am - 8pm