Winemaker Notes
Cloves, sandalwood and sweet pipe tobacco meld with deep black cherry and other ripe red fruits. Appetizing bacon and delicate mushroom contrast with the fruit and complete the complex aroma, resulting in a very full and sweet-textured Pinot Noir with grace and power. The tannins should give this wine plenty of time to improve by developing bottle-aged character. We expect it to hit its stride in the fall of 2002 and be good through the decade. Try it with braised beef short ribs. -Michael Terrien, Winemaker
Alcohol: 14.4% by volume
Professional Ratings
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.