Winemaker Notes
This maturation translates into a succulent wine that emanates aromas of rosehips, cherry, and boysenberry jam. The flavor continues on the palate with notes of smokey mushrooms, dark chocolate, and blackberry. This wine is drinking beautifully now and will develop with age. Drink through 2028.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Pinot Noir HMR Vineyard comes from a vineyard in the Adelaida region of Paso and was fermented with 20% whole clusters and aged 15 months in 45% new oak. This medium ruby, translucent hued 2018 has a great nose of spiced red and black fruits, sappy herbs, decaying flowers, and forest floor. With medium-bodied richness, beautiful balance, plenty of fruit, and a terrific finish, it's a beautiful Pinot Noir that certainly stands up to top Pinot Noirs coming out of Santa Barbara County and the North Coast region of California.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged 15 months in 45% new French oak, the 2018 Pinot Noir HMR Estate Vineyard has a medium ruby color and bright, pretty cranberry and red berry aromas with notes of earth, dried flowers and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate is silky, uplifted and fresh with bright, juicy fruits and a long finish.
Say the words “Paso Robles Pinot Noir,” and some folks might give you a funny look. After all, the region has become famous for Zinfandel, Cabernet and Rhone varieties like Syrah and Grenache. But Pinot? It turns out, however, that Paso Pinot not only has some history, but a very promising future. As in the field of real estate, it all comes down to location, location, location.
Pinot Noir was made here as early as the 1970’s, with further efforts coming in the 1990’s. But it couldn’t happen just anywhere. Typically the sub-appellations on the Westside, namely Adelaida, Templeton Gap, York Mountain and Willow Creek, which benefit from the cooling effect of the nearby Pacific Ocean, turn out the most impressive Pinot Noir, redolent of red fruit, loamy forest floor and floral tones.