Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from Carneros, just south of Napa, the 2019 Pinot Noir Magic Moments Hyde Vineyard was all destemmed and spent 16 months in 50% new French oak. It's another classy, ripe, textured, yet still balanced and seamless wine from Lato that I'd certainly love to have on any dinner table. Revealing a ruby/plum/translucent hue as well as complex notes of ripe cherry and darker berry fruits along with forest floor and spice, it's rich, medium to full-bodied, and powerful, with a Russian River-like power level. One of the more mouth-filling efforts in the vintage, it's a head turner that should evolve gracefully for 7-8 years, if not a decade.
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James Suckling
Blueberries, sliced strawberries and hints of flowers. Orange peel, too. Full-bodied, very bright and fruity with citrusy acidity and firm tannins. Racy and focused. Terrific finish.
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.