Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Far more compelling that the Temblor is the lovely, sexy 2012 Pinot Noir Estate Heirloom. A dark plum/garnet color is followed by sweet berry fruit intermixed with damp earth, tobacco leaf and forest floor notes. It is a lush, heady, delicious, medium-bodied Pinot Noir to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Heirloom vines contribute to this aptly named Pinot, with a sizable expression of vibrant black cherry and cinnamon, accented in truffle-like earth. Concentrated and cradled in oak, it represents the powerful side of the variety, buoyed by enough acidity to keep it fresh in the glass.
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.