Winemaker Notes
The 2021 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir displays beautiful aroma of ripe plums with boysenberry. The palate is very rich and full-bodied, with ripe black cherry flavors accented by subtle baking spices ending with soft tannins and a long, silky finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark boysenberry and black cardamom aromas make for an intense and rich nose on this bottling from an iconic vineyard. The palate is fruit-driven and fresh, as the ripe berry flavors are elevated by chai spices. Sure to impress those seeking a bold Pinot Noir.
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Wine Spectator
This has a nice rich feel, with crushed raspberry and boysenberry preserves underscored by hints of mulling spices and red tea. The finish is carried by understated juicy energy as the fruit plays out.
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.