Winemaker Notes
The that the use of whole clusters amplifies aromatic complexity and adds a layer of texture. The aromatics are lifted and expressive while the wine has an underlying structure that will gain body over the potentially long life of this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Pungent amounts of cinnamon, raspberry, wet thyme and dill show on the brilliant nose of this cool-climate, 100% whole cluster bottling by Bradley Brown. It's tart and tightly wound on the palate like a ready-to-pluck instrument, combining fresh and bright red-fruit flavors with forest-floor spice.
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Wine & Spirits
This grows on a southfacing slope in Corralitos, close to the Monterey Bay, where the vines gained enough ripeness in 2016 for Bradley Brown to put the whole bunches, stems and all, in a fermenter and do little more than tread them by foot. It turned into a transparent pinot with touches of brown in the color, the flavor all about salted plums and red currants. Rose scents develop with air, as does a nautilusshell echo of the sea. Built for any fresh catch.
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.