Winemaker Notes
The 2022 harvest of Pinot Noir resulted in an exceptional and delicate wine. It presents bright aromas of strawberry and rhubarb, complemented by hints of garrigue and milk chocolate. The first sip reveals a juicy burst of pomegranate and raspberry, creating a refreshingly vibrant experience. This delightful vintage is sure to please for years to come.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Translucent and confident, lifted with hibiscus and red tea. Structured with acidity and sappy tannins, this bursts with energy and confidence. Red cherries, wild berries and forest floor are layered, vibrant and long. From vines planted in 1964, making it the oldest pinot noir vineyard on the Central Coast. Burgundy by way of Paso. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir HMR Vineyard is a total pleasure on the nose, mixing rose petals and lavender with bright cherry-berry fruit. Silken in feel, it offers vibrant acidity and fresh red and blue fruit that swirl beneath an air of inner violet florals. The 2022 firms up through the finish, leaving a pleasantly bitter note framed by ripe tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir HMR Estate Vineyard is a beautiful anomaly, displaying a level of poise and nuance far beyond what one would expect from a Paso Robles Pinot Noir. It is sourced from estate vines planted in 1964, fermented in concrete and aged in around one-third new wood. The nose is led by bright, beaming aromas of citrus peel and dried herbs, leading to a silky, pretty, refreshing palate that is wonderfully deft and elegant. The finish is understated and delicate, framed by noticeable new oak framing, but concludes on a lovely, balanced note.
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.