Winemaker Notes
An intensely aromatic wine with notes vibrant red cherry and earthy mushrooms, followed by hints of bay leaf and black pepper. The complexity continues on the palate with flavors of fresh handpicked cherries, hints of vanilla and a toasty oak finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Gentle, cooling ocean breezes from Monterey Bay grace the slopes of this site in the northern part of the Santa Lucia Highlands. The wine’s aromas of heather, mushroom, and wild strawberry have savory undertones. Raspberry, bramble, dried Italian herbs, and sweet earth intertwine with precise acidity to form a delicate character
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of slightly seared lemon peel, lime and grapefruit blossom show on the bright nose of this bottling. The palate is more toasty in oak flavors, but a lemon twist adds vibrancy.
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.