Winemaker Notes
As soon as the cork is popped, the 2019 Luli Pinot Noir showcases itself as a vibrant representation of the Santa Lucia Highlands. A shimmering medium ruby hue splashes into the glass as aromas of red cherry, tea leaf, and spiced plum fill the air. A true expression of the east-facing, windswept hillsides of this narrow AVA, this wine hits on all cylinders with bright flavors of macerated strawberry and raspberry, backed by more savory undertones of clove and wet earth. Added depth and complexity give this elegant Pinot Noir layer after layer, as it maintains fresh, lively acidity and soft, voluptuous tannin while coating the palate with enviable weight and concentration.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Looking at the three Pinot Noirs, the 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands offers a beautiful array of mulled cherry and strawberry fruits to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured, spicy, autumn leaf-scented Pinot Noir that has lots of up-front fruit and charm. It should be impressive for a solid 3-5 years or so, although there's no need to hold off.
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.