Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Ripe and generous, with open-knit plum, black cherry and wild berry fruit, firming on the finish, where the tannins offer an aftertaste of crushed rock and pebble.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard is much more immediate, round and juicy than the Garys', Kosta-Browne's other vineyard-designate Pinot from the Santa Lucia Highlands. A blast of black and blue fruits hits the palate in this exuberant, flashy wine. An exotic hint of pomegranate and orange peel add an exotic flair that is undeniably appealing. Today, the Rosella's comes across as more typical of the Santa Lucia Highlands than the Garys'.
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.