Winemaker Notes
Delicious with duck breast, lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, roast chicken or grilled salmon. Try Manchego or Fontina for the cheese course. Seasoning affinities include dried citrus peel and berries along with shaved fennel.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
What a great price for a Pinot Noir with this charm and integrity. It's a wonderful wine, dry and rich in raspberry, cherry and spice flavors. Feels svelte and silky in the mouth, just like you want Pinot to be. Might even gain a few notes with a year or two in the bottle.
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.