Winemaker Notes
Subtle aromas swirl from the glass in a mix of lavender, rose petals, herbs de Provence. Raspberry, pomegranate, wild plum and red tea with vanilla bean and white pepper on the back end. Mouthwatering acidity leads this wine smoothly from conversation to the dinner table.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Similar in style, the 2015 Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard is a smaller cuvée of only 134 cases, aged in 30% new oak. Loaded with notes of spice box, forest floor, black raspberry and black cherry notes mixed with cola and loamy soil undertones, it is medium to full-bodied but delicious, and again shows the high quality Pinot Noir that can be made from selected sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Drink it over the next 5-6 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.”
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.