Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Peter Martin Ray Vineyard comes from head-trained, dry-farmed vines planted in 1979 at 1,400 feet in elevation, and grapes were harvested September 18. It fermented with 100% whole clusters and matured for 10 months in used French oak. It has inviting aromas of pomegranate, blueberry, forest floor, juniper and violets. The light-bodied palate is delicately styled with a modest 12% alcohol and layered, perfumed flavors. It’s structured by soft, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish.
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is delicate, silky and understated. Floral-inflected red-toned fruit, orange peel, cinnamon and spice are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. The 2023 is very pretty and nuanced. Here, too, the 100% stems are impeccably balanced.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.