Comartin Cellars R Bar Ranch Pinot Noir 2015
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From a vineyard at 1,100 feet elevation in the southern part of the appellation, this bottling shows light and lively raspberry, plum, white pepper, fennel and damp herb aromas. The palate abounds with red fruit, well-woven acidity and layers of herbs. A raspberry jam note pops on the finish.
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2014-
Wine
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Adam learned about wine and appreciated its connection to place and culture, by backpacking through Europe as a teenager. After returning to California, he obtained his degree in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis in 2004. Once again looking to travel, he and Jennifer ventured to Australia and lived in the city of Adelaide outside the Barossa Valley. It is here that Adam was introduced to the Grenache grape and its ability to make exceptional wines.
When they returned to California, Adam went to work for Testarossa Vineyards, where he learned the intricacies of making world class Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. On the road with Testarossa and the Grenache grape in the back of his mind, Adam discovered the premier sites in California for Grenache.
With winemaking experience and a passion to make the best California Grenache, Comartin Cellars was launched. Together, Adam and Jennifer oversee every process, from working with growers and fermenting the grapes to shipping the wines. In their eyes, it is vital to be involved in every step, ensuring exceptional wine quality and personable relationships with customers.
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.