Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blueberry cheesecake, ash, bright licorice, orange rind, dried hibiscus and raspberry tea. Medium to full body, fine tannins, lots of tangy blue fruit, pretty acidity and a charcoal, structured finish. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard hits the ground running with bold earthy notes of mossy bark, tilled soil and fungi over a core of red and black cherries, cranberries and Provence herbs plus a touch of lavender. The wonderfully vibrant, medium to full-bodied palate has a fine-grained frame and compelling freshness, finishing minerally and with bags of finesse.
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Wine Spectator
Dark, rich and concentrated, with tiers of blackberry, currant, raspberry and anise, backed by full-blown tannins that impart backbone but let the flavors glide through. Drink now through 2025.
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.