Winemaker Notes
These esteemed old vines display the compelling attributes of new-world fruit entwined around old-world flavor and structure. Fruit forward aromas of black cherry, raspberry, and musky rose combine beautifully with savory allspice and rich earth. The rare soil combination, over limestone clay, creates both finesse and structure. Upon release, the wine is vibrant and juicy, this flavor profile originates from the natural bright fruit acidity of grapes grown in limestone soils. Overall, one of the more graceful vintages of HMR to sip and savor.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Forest botanicals like pungent new pine tips open on the nose of this pretty Pinot. Whiffs of savoury spice and black tea balance black cherry and earthy floral aromas. Lovely, concentrated black raspberry and cherry fruit on the palate are brightened by juicy acidity and flavoured with Asian spice and more black tea. There's weight and structure here—a limestone-grown, high-elevation wine—but its depth and length are textured with velvet.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Pinot Noir HMR Estate Vineyard was vinified with 20% whole clusters and matured for 15 months in 35% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and scents of red cherries, cinnamon, charcuterie and woodsmoke. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with delicate, spicy fruits lingering on the finish. Best After 2023.
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.