Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Winemaker Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi makes forceful Pinot Noirs that are both stylish and exquisite. The 2013 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir is an excellent case in point. This wine shows focused red and enticing blue fruits while finishing with a delicious and enticing savory note. Winegrower Peter Cargasacchi often talks about the natural darker fruit character and natural richness of his grapes. Bonaccorsi has captured the concept well. Pair with Peking duck and go lightly on the hoisin sauce. (Tasted: November 18, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Spice, plums, earth, underbrush and some herbal undertones all show from the 2013 Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard. It hits the palate with solid amounts of ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit, plenty of texture and a good, not great, finish. All from clone 115, completely destemmed and aged 20 months in 40% new French oak, drink this outstanding Pinot Noir over the coming 5-7 years.
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 superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.