Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Spares no expense, with lavish smoke and black licorice–scented oak framing a rich core of dark berry, anise, boysenberry and savory herb notes. Full-blown and expressive through a persistent, mouthcoating finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A very expressive Pinot Noir that speaks lots about the power and energy of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. The 2013 Belle Glos Las Alturas Vineyard has a deep ruby color and a big hit of wood in the nose at the moment from the wine's youth, bright and pure red fruit aromas, excellent depth and definition; medium bodied, sharp and lively on the palate; dry, very good acidity, well balanced; a fine parade of berries, earth and black fruit in the flavors, wood in the accent mode; medium finish, youthful in the aftertaste. Almost drinking now, just a little bit of time in the bottled would work wonders. (Tasted: April 23, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.