Sante Arcangeli Split Rail Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
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Wine
Enthusiast
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
94 Point Rating, PinotFile- "Moderately light cherry color in the glass. Lovely nose with alluring aromas of Bing cherry, sandalwood and spice cabinet. A delightful wine that is deep on the palate with an impressive attack of fleshy dark cherry, black raspberry and spice flavors complimented by a subtle vein of savory herbs in the background. The fine-grain, slightly weighty tannins provide good structure, and the persistent finish brings waves of vivid, flamboyant fruit."
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose on this single-vineyard bottling from the top of the appellation above Corralitos entertains the nose with a spicy fruit-punch aroma, lifted by crushed cloves and a bit of juniper. It is both voluptuous and racy on the palate, with lots of rhubarb and pomegranate ripeness, yet pencil shavings and chai tea spice throughout.
Other Vintages
2018-
Robert
Parker -
The Somm
Journal
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
John named the winery after his great grandfather as a means of honoring all those in my family who came before and provided him the tools to do what he loves to do. John says, "Having taught myself to brew beer in my late teens/early 20s, I segued to wine in my mid-30s after many years of successful and creative brewing, with the help of Ryan Beauregard ,the Brassfield family, and James MacPhail, all of whom acted in varying capacities as friends, mentors and teachers. It started as a hobby. Now it’s a hobby gone haywire. My first barrel of wine was pinot noir, fermented with native yeast, from a very rare Santa Cruz Mountains vineyard. Jumped right into the deep end of the pool, with a goal to make delicate, layered, nuanced pinot noir and chardonnay in Santa Cruz."
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.