Winemaker Notes
Aromas of black cherries, baking spices, and sarsaparilla. The wine is robust, complex, and delicious, exhibiting more tertiary flavors as it evolves. The mouthfeel is silky, with beautifully integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish. Classic Carneros but with a distinct Burgundian influence.
Highly enjoyable on its own, it will pair beautifully with a wide range of foods.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Rich and unctuous pinot with aromas of ripe strawberries, dried flowers and tanned leather that follow through to a full body with round, creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Smoky undertone to the ripe fruit. Round, crushed-velvety texture. Hard not to drink now, but will age nicely in a more flamboyant style.
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Wine Enthusiast
At first soft and broad, this wine follows a very relaxed first sip to build on the palate and offer tangy cherry and dried cranberry fruit braced by good, lightly gripping tannins.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Pinot Noir from Carneros has a medium-bodied, supple, elegant style with lots to love as well as attractive red and black fruits and notes of dried herbs and earth. I like its balance, and it shines for its fruit.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.