Winemaker Notes
The Peter Martin Ray vineyard is part of the original planting of Pinot Noir on Mt. Eden above the town of Saratoga in the Eastern Santa Cruz Mountains. Dating to the late 1800's this site is of historical significance as many of today’s modern Pinot plantings have been made with genetic material that originated on this hill. The vineyard is 3 acres of old stake trained vines that are dry-farmed at 1,600? in Franciscan Shale soils. The vineyard is still owned and farmed by Peter Martin Ray the son of legendary California vintner Martin "Rusty" Ray. The site is exposed and the soils here are notoriously poor in nutrients which lead the the vines to struggle for survival. The resulting wine is true to its mountain grown roots and is a nod to the rich history of this site. They are honored to work with the Ray family and look forward to many more years of harvesting beautiful fruit from this plot.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Pleasing rusticity, with aromas of of spiced red cherries, cranberries and a woodsy note reminiscent of a redwood forest. Structured and medium-bodied with chewy tannins.
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Vinous
The 2024 Pinot Noir Peter Martin Ray Vineyard is the most delicate of the three Arnot-Roberts Pinots. Haunting aromatics open first. Soft, beautifully perfumed and sensual, with impeccable balance, the Peter Martin Ray is so expressive. Silky tannins shape the polished mid-palate and a finish sprinkled with savory overtones from the 100% stems. What a total delight.
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.