Dec 30, 2022
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The Withers Winery
| Owner(s) | Andrew Tow, Kathleen Tow |
| Web site | www.thewitherswinery.com |
| Link to this site |
Founder Andrew Tow, a Westchester, New York-based business executive, started out making a few barrels of wine for friends and family in conjunction with winemakers David Low and Tyson Freeman at Anthill Farms Winery in Healdsburg after tasting an Anthill Farms Pinot Noir. The response was so positive that a label was born. Tow is the managing partner and founder of The Withers that he and a few partners launched in December 2013.
Initially, Two would take Low to Montana and teach him how to fly fish, and Low would make a few barrels of Pinot Noir for Two to share with friends and family. Two eventually pursued a commercial venture.
The name "The Withers" refers to the tallest point of the body in many species. For horses, it is the place from which height is measured. The winery was thus named in the spirit of striving for heights in wine production and as a tribute to Mr. Burgess, the Irish Connemara pony who has been a member of Tow's extended family for almost 15 years. The artwork on the label is an original illustration of Mr. Burgess drawn by a woman friend and is a portrait of Mr. Burgess.
Wines are made from Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and Sierra Foothills vineyards and include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, red Rhone varietal blends and a red Rhone Rosé. The wines are fermented and aged almost exclusively in neutral oak barrels.
The wines are sold through a wine club and mailing list. Annual production is 4,500 cases.
Articles About The Withers Winery
Reviewed Wines
2014 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 361 cases, $44. A 14-acre vineyard
planted in 2001 (10 acres of Pinot Noir). Located in Boonville adjacent Anderson Creek. Pommard, 115 and
667. Extremely well-drained soils. 35% whole cluster, feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak. Aged in French
oak barrels, 20% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Dark fruited
on the nose with added scents of spice, bark and nutty oak. More inviting in the mouth, with flavors of black
cherry and oak spice backed by muscular tannins that rise up on the finish that has good intensity and length.
Needs a little more time in bottle to integrate the tannins.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 13, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 The Withers Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 319 cases, $44. Vineyard was
planted between 1991 and 1996. Located just southwest of Sebastopol. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777.
35% whole cluster, feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak. Aged in French oak barrels, 15% new. Bottled
unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is very shy even with
vigorous swirling, revealing only scents of earthy flora and oak. Much better on the palate, with flavors of
cranberry, cherry and raspberry in a sleek, mid weight styled wine that has appealing fruit juiciness and
vibrancy. Somewhat simple, yet strives to please, with balanced tannins and a very satisfying, red fruit driven
finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 13, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 The Withers English Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 347 cases, $48. 8.5-acre
vineyard planted in 2005. Located 9.2 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Occidental at 652 feet in Goldridge soil.
Clones are Vosne-Romanee, 115 and 667. 35% whole cluster and feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak.
Aged in French oak barrels, 15% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the
glass. Highly ripened fruit aromas combined with notes of mesquite, stem and mocha java. Mid weight flavors
of oak-kissed black cherry with an earthy, savory herb undertone. Plush in the mouth, with soft, merged
tannins, spice notes, and some finishing goodness. This wine will benefit from more time in bottle to fully
harmonize.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 13, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 13.3% alc., $42. This vineyard
was planted in 1991 and 1996 on land that was previously an apple orchard. It is located southwest of
Sebastopol. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777. Fermented with 35% whole cluster and ambient yeasts at
cool temperatures after a cold soak. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels. Racked once before bottling,
unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate cherry red hue in the glass. Aromas of red cherry, cranberry and earth are
echoed on the palate with an additional hint of cola and citrus. The tannins are well-matched and the finish is
thirst-quenching. When tasted two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose had
become more earthy and herbal and the wine was soft and pleasant in the mouth with a cherry theme. A solid,
but not exceptional wine.
Score: 88.
Reviewed April 5, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 300 cases, $44. Clones include Pommard, 115 and 667. Fermented with 35% whole cluster and
ambient yeasts at cool temperature after a cold soak. About 15% new French oak barrels. Racked once before
bottling, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. This wine was rather
brooding and bland with aggressive tannins upon opening, improving some in the glass, but really achieved
expression two days after opened when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Fresh aromas
of blackberry, black cherry and spice were followed on the palate with a ripe array of red cherry and berry
flavors accented with spice and herbs, and framed by supportive fruit tannins. A remarkable transformation that
proves again that Pinot Noir is an elusive challenge to evaluate. Decant this wine if you must pull the cork now.
Score: 91.
Reviewed April 5, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 300 cases, $44.
·
Moderate
reddish purple color in the glass. Bright aromas of cherry and cranberry are infused with oak that is more
apparent over time in the glass. The mid weight plus charge of black cherry fruit is backed by chalky tannins
and juicy acidity. Only a subtle bit of nutty oak is evident on the palate. The wine lingers at the finish with a
fusion of citrus and boysenberry highlights.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers English Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 145 cases, $46. This vineyard in Occidental was planted in
2005. Clones include Vosne Romanee, 115 and 667. Fermented with
35% whole cluster and ambient yeasts at cool temperatures after a cold
soak. Aged in about 15% new French oak barrels. Racked once before
bottling, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate cherry red color in the glass.
Lovely perfume of whole cluster-inspired spice, bark and rose petal
enhancing the fresh cherry fruit. Mid weight flavors of spiced cherry and
sandalwood, with modest backing tannins and a juicy finish. Admirable
smoothness on the palate and very harmonious.
Score: 91.
Reviewed April 5, 2015
ARTICLE »
2014 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 361 cases, $44. A 14-acre vineyard planted in 2001 (10 acres of Pinot Noir). Located in Boonville adjacent Anderson Creek. Pommard, 115 and 667. Extremely well-drained soils. 35% whole cluster, feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak. Aged in French oak barrels, 20% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Dark fruited on the nose with added scents of spice, bark and nutty oak. More inviting in the mouth, with flavors of black cherry and oak spice backed by muscular tannins that rise up on the finish that has good intensity and length. Needs a little more time in bottle to integrate the tannins. Score: 89. Reviewed December 13, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 The Withers Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 319 cases, $44. Vineyard was planted between 1991 and 1996. Located just southwest of Sebastopol. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777. 35% whole cluster, feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak. Aged in French oak barrels, 15% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is very shy even with vigorous swirling, revealing only scents of earthy flora and oak. Much better on the palate, with flavors of cranberry, cherry and raspberry in a sleek, mid weight styled wine that has appealing fruit juiciness and vibrancy. Somewhat simple, yet strives to please, with balanced tannins and a very satisfying, red fruit driven finish. Score: 89. Reviewed December 13, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 The Withers English Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 347 cases, $48. 8.5-acre vineyard planted in 2005. Located 9.2 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Occidental at 652 feet in Goldridge soil. Clones are Vosne-Romanee, 115 and 667. 35% whole cluster and feral yeast fermentation after a cold soak. Aged in French oak barrels, 15% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Highly ripened fruit aromas combined with notes of mesquite, stem and mocha java. Mid weight flavors of oak-kissed black cherry with an earthy, savory herb undertone. Plush in the mouth, with soft, merged tannins, spice notes, and some finishing goodness. This wine will benefit from more time in bottle to fully harmonize. Score: 89. Reviewed December 13, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 13.3% alc., $42. This vineyard was planted in 1991 and 1996 on land that was previously an apple orchard. It is located southwest of Sebastopol. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777. Fermented with 35% whole cluster and ambient yeasts at cool temperatures after a cold soak. Aged in 20% new French oak barrels. Racked once before bottling, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate cherry red hue in the glass. Aromas of red cherry, cranberry and earth are echoed on the palate with an additional hint of cola and citrus. The tannins are well-matched and the finish is thirst-quenching. When tasted two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose had become more earthy and herbal and the wine was soft and pleasant in the mouth with a cherry theme. A solid, but not exceptional wine. Score: 88. Reviewed April 5, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 300 cases, $44. Clones include Pommard, 115 and 667. Fermented with 35% whole cluster and ambient yeasts at cool temperature after a cold soak. About 15% new French oak barrels. Racked once before bottling, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. This wine was rather brooding and bland with aggressive tannins upon opening, improving some in the glass, but really achieved expression two days after opened when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Fresh aromas of blackberry, black cherry and spice were followed on the palate with a ripe array of red cherry and berry flavors accented with spice and herbs, and framed by supportive fruit tannins. A remarkable transformation that proves again that Pinot Noir is an elusive challenge to evaluate. Decant this wine if you must pull the cork now. Score: 91. Reviewed April 5, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., 300 cases, $44. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Bright aromas of cherry and cranberry are infused with oak that is more apparent over time in the glass. The mid weight plus charge of black cherry fruit is backed by chalky tannins and juicy acidity. Only a subtle bit of nutty oak is evident on the palate. The wine lingers at the finish with a fusion of citrus and boysenberry highlights. Score: 90. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 The Withers English Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 145 cases, $46. This vineyard in Occidental was planted in 2005. Clones include Vosne Romanee, 115 and 667. Fermented with 35% whole cluster and ambient yeasts at cool temperatures after a cold soak. Aged in about 15% new French oak barrels. Racked once before bottling, unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate cherry red color in the glass. Lovely perfume of whole cluster-inspired spice, bark and rose petal enhancing the fresh cherry fruit. Mid weight flavors of spiced cherry and sandalwood, with modest backing tannins and a juicy finish. Admirable smoothness on the palate and very harmonious. Score: 91. Reviewed April 5, 2015 ARTICLE »