Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Juicy, dusty and mineral-driven, this wine is balanced and fresh on the palate—a study in contrasts between savory and the succulence of plum, dark cherry and just a touch of vanilla. Lush and fleshy, it retains plenty of acidity throughout.
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James Suckling
Deep cherries and plenty of spice on the nose, forming a dramatic invitation to this rich, well-structured yet rather silky pinot noir. The long, clean finish is slightly grainy, but may well smooth out with further aging.
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.”
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.