Winemaker Notes
This soft and silky wine is made by blending several of Abiouness Wines' most delicate Pinot Noir barrels. Rich and ripe, red fruits burst out of the glass into your nose. Those same flavors carry through on the palate enveloped by wild berry compote, roasted duck, pekoe tea and elderberries. There is a pronounced acidity balanced by supple and silky tannins.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.