Lumen Pinot Noir 2018
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The nose offers bright notes of bing cherry, red plum pie, sour cherry, cola, orange peel, sage, cinnamon stick, and root beer. Powerful and compact on the palate with, wild boysenberry, cranberry, peach and sage. Persistent and consistent. Rich yet lithe. Long, vibrant, fresh and fine. Drink now through 2038.
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This appellation blend of three clones from three vineyards hits all the marks. Light in the glass, it pops with juicy strawberry, sagebrush and charcuterie on the fresh and fun nose. The snappy palate picks up melon, red plum and wild mint flavors.
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Lane has always had a reputation for being the first to call a pick in the vineyard. Even during the 1990's and 2000's, at a time when most of her peers were chasing Parker scores and pushing harvest times ever later, Lane held fast to her winemaking philosophy - scores or no scores. Ironically, her winemaking style has now come back into vogue.
Lane Tanner was one of the first female winemakers in Central California, and the first to dedicate her entire winery to Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. Her knowledge of the Santa Maria Valley dates back to her first vintage in 1981, as oenologist for Firestone, a job that the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff recommended her for. She later made wine for Zaca Mesa and the Hitching Post, and finally under her own label in 1989. Her wines are notable for being low in alcohol and sulfites, a practice that she continues to this day.
Will Henry entered the wine business shortly after college in 1989 and worked at Leeuwin Estate Winery in Western Australia. He then entered wine sales and worked for The Henry Wine Group, his family's wine distribution company, on and off for the following 20 years. In the meantime he became a widely-published journalist and photographer, and also founded the non-profit organization Save The Waves Coalition. His knowledge of sales and marketing is the perfect complement to Lane's winemaking skills. Both Will and Lane make the wines together in Santa Maria, CA.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.