Winemaker Notes
Sitting just above the wine’s surface, a layer of complex aromas evolves: fresh cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry that turns into crushed gravel, coast redwood forest floor, lemon zest and shiitake mushroom. In the mouth, the wine shows itself as indulgent with a pleasing depth and slight heft; similar cranberry, a touch of blue fruits and hints of lavender combine for a satiating richness. The wine loses with notes of brioche and strawberry tart, with very little tannin and a quenching, balanced acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sleeping Hollow Vineyard leaps from the glass with notes of cranberry sauce, redcurrant jelly and black raspberries with hints of black tea, forest floor and bouquet garni with a beautiful undercurrent of rose oil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is filled with ripe red berry layers and loads of earthy/savory accents, supported by finely knit, grainy tannins, finishing with great length and focus.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe, fruity style, with concentrated dark plum and berry flavors loaded with cooking spice accents. Fleshy finish is backed by firm tannins and acidity.
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.