Brea Pinot Noir 2016
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Wilfred
Wong
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Winemaker Notes
Both vineyards are enriched with many of Rudolph Steiner’s farming principals to enliven the soil and bring the grapes to life. La Estancia area generates a regularity of fog at night, through the morning, and wind in afternoon. The soil consists of sandy loam and silty soils. Sumida Sisters Vineyard is located in the
historic Santa Lucia Highlands. Erin and Simon Phillips, who are the current vineyard owners, planted the 8 acres of Pinot Noir in 2010. It is located below their La Estancia Vineyard. The soil is alluvial and porous. It consists of Chualar loam, granite, and sandstone - which provide a nourishing environment for grape vines. Erin brings a fresh approach to farming this vineyard, maintaining an alert awareness on when to add and maintain balance with a light touch. She believes in these essential ingredients to growing tasty grapes: fresh soil, air, water, and most importantly, she adds loads of love.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: A large percentage of Pinot Noirs in the marketplace are made to sip at a sports bar watching a big game. The 2016 Brea Wine Pinot Noir is made with a meal in mind. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright and well-balanced. Its aromas and flavors of cranberries, strawberries, and chalk make it a desirable matching wine with lightly-grilled salmon. (Tasted: September 25, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2017-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong
Let’s start with the obvious – Central Coast Pinot Noir is an incredibly broad category. This of course is because the Central Coast appellation is enormous, and it contains several stellar Pinot Noir regions within it, all of them kept cool by elevation or proximity to the ocean (or both). So we’ll break things down a bit with a brief look at each of these: Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey and the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. These are not the only Central Coast sources of good Pinot Noir, but they are the major ones. So let’s get started.
In the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, just west of Silicon Valley, producers craft excellent Pinot in spite of serious challenges. The land is mountainous, rugged and can be foggy, the topsoil is thin and poor and yields tend to be low. Yet Pinots from the likes of David Bruce, Martin Ray, Mount Eden and Thomas Fogarty exhibit undeniable quality, along with bright red fruit, minerality, earth and herbal hints.
Just south lies the large Monterey appellation. Monterey Pinot Noir is grown in coastal areas, taking optimal advantage of the cooling effect of the Pacific. The most highly regarded of these is the Santa Lucia Highlands. Situated on hilly benchlands south of the city of Monterey, this central coast region relies on a long growing season, night and morning fog and consistent afternoon winds to produce world class Pinot Noir. Attributes include intense, rich fruit, subtle earthy notes, spice and a silky texture. Look for producers like Siduri, Kosta Browne, Talbott and Lucienne.
The Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara County (a section of it falls into southern San Luis Obispo County) is also a haven for quality Pinot Noir. A mere 15 miles from the Pacific, the valley runs east-west, creating a natural tunnel through which ocean breezes and fog flow. This effect lengthens the growing season and promotes both ripeness and development of acidity, lending Santa Maria Valley Pinots their characteristic full flavor, balance and elegance. The famous Bien Nacido Vineyard is located here, and notable producers include Cambria, Foxen, Byron and Au Bon Climat.
Finally, we arrive at the Sta. Rita Hills, also in Santa Barbara County. Located in the western part of the Santa Ynez Valley, it too benefits from an east-west orientation that leads to the same conditions mentioned above. Once again the result is extended hang time for the grapes, which can be tasted in the vibrant, ripe red fruits evident in these Pinots, along with dense coloration and an impression of richness and intensity. Try wines from producers like Ken Brown, Ampelos, Fess Parker and Melville.
As you can see, California’s Central Coast offers a wealth of options for any lover of Pinot Noir. Cheers!