Meridian Pinot Noir 1997

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    Meridian Pinot Noir 1997 Front Label
    Meridian Pinot Noir 1997 Front Label

    Product Details


    Varietal

    Region

    Producer

    Vintage
    1997

    Size
    750ML

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    Somm Note

    Winemaker Notes

    Chuck Ortman has been a pioneer in creating super-premium wines from the Santa Barbara coastal area since the 1980's, and has been a master of the Chardonnay varietal for the past 25 years. The same is now coming true for Pinot Noir, as Chuck Ortman is quickly becoming known for his mastery of this difficult grape variety. With foggy mornings, sunny afternoons, and cool evenings, Santa Barbara is ideal for premium Pinot Noir, producing intensely flavored, balanced fruit. Suggested food pairings include smoked chicken, grilled lamb, pork, cheeses, pastas and turkey.

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    Meridian

    Meridian

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    Meridian, California
    Established in 1988, the Meridian Vineyards winery is located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the relaxed town of Paso Robles, California. The label was founded in 1984 by veteran Winemaker Chuck Ortman, who spent the early part of his career as winemaker and consultant to several prestigious Napa and Sonoma wineries. Although the first Meridian wines were made from Napa fruit, Ortman was always intrigued by the emerging Central Coast growing regions of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, where vineyards in cool climates were yielding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of phenomenal quality. When the opportunity was presented to develop Meridian's Santa Barbara vineyards and relocate to the Central Coast, Ortman eagerly accepted the challenge. Today, Chuck is still making the wines from vineyards owned and farmed by Meridian Vineyards in the Santa Barbara County, Edna Valley and Paso Robles appellations.
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    Let’s start with the obvious – Central Coast Pinot Noir is an incredibly broad category. This of course is because the Central Coast appellation is enormous, and it contains several stellar Pinot Noir regions within it, all of them kept cool by elevation or proximity to the ocean (or both). So we’ll break things down a bit with a brief look at each of these: Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey and the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. These are not the only Central Coast sources of good Pinot Noir, but they are the major ones. So let’s get started.

    In the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, just west of Silicon Valley, producers craft excellent Pinot in spite of serious challenges. The land is mountainous, rugged and can be foggy, the topsoil is thin and poor and yields tend to be low. Yet Pinots from the likes of David Bruce, Martin Ray, Mount Eden and Thomas Fogarty exhibit undeniable quality, along with bright red fruit, minerality, earth and herbal hints.

    Just south lies the large Monterey appellation. Monterey Pinot Noir is grown in coastal areas, taking optimal advantage of the cooling effect of the Pacific. The most highly regarded of these is the Santa Lucia Highlands. Situated on hilly benchlands south of the city of Monterey, this central coast region relies on a long growing season, night and morning fog and consistent afternoon winds to produce world class Pinot Noir. Attributes include intense, rich fruit, subtle earthy notes, spice and a silky texture. Look for producers like Siduri, Kosta Browne, Talbott and Lucienne.

    The Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara County (a section of it falls into southern San Luis Obispo County) is also a haven for quality Pinot Noir. A mere 15 miles from the Pacific, the valley runs east-west, creating a natural tunnel through which ocean breezes and fog flow. This effect lengthens the growing season and promotes both ripeness and development of acidity, lending Santa Maria Valley Pinots their characteristic full flavor, balance and elegance. The famous Bien Nacido Vineyard is located here, and notable producers include Cambria, Foxen, Byron and Au Bon Climat.

    Finally, we arrive at the Sta. Rita Hills, also in Santa Barbara County. Located in the western part of the Santa Ynez Valley, it too benefits from an east-west orientation that leads to the same conditions mentioned above. Once again the result is extended hang time for the grapes, which can be tasted in the vibrant, ripe red fruits evident in these Pinots, along with dense coloration and an impression of richness and intensity. Try wines from producers like Ken Brown, Ampelos, Fess Parker and Melville.

    As you can see, California’s Central Coast offers a wealth of options for any lover of Pinot Noir. Cheers!

    SHC0041485 Item# 6707

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