Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
The appealing red-cherry and lemon-peel aromas and only a whisker of toasty oak on the nose, pull you into this very attractive pinot noir. Many will find the crisp tannins and liveliness surprising for a Napa Valley red. Long, bright finish. Drink or hold.
-
Wine Enthusiast
This wine is earthy in rock and forest elements, with lifted tones of velvety red fruit and rose petal. The tannin and oak are expansive and sturdy on the palate, providing structure around richer aspects of cola and tea.
-
Wine & Spirits
A good, simple cherry-scented pinot noir, this is neither overextracted nor excessively concentrated, content to present the rich red-fruit flavors of Carneros along with some light barrel notes of smoke. If you look closely, there are hints of superripeness to the fruit, suggesting early drinking, especially if there is seared duck breast on the menu.
-
Wine Spectator
Lusciously spiced, with good cut to the cherry tart, plum and wild berry flavors, supported by fresh acidity. Hints of chocolate show on the finish. Drink now through 2022.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.