Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard is another Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir from Paul and this was aged 15 months in 45% new French oak. Slightly deeper ruby colored than the Duende, it offers more framboise, black cherry, earth and forest floor aromas and flavors, a silky, layered texture, high, yet integrated acidity and fine tannin. It excels in the more firm, focused style of the vintage and will keep for a decade or more.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard has a pale ruby-purple color and delivers intense cherry cordial, raspberry pie and baking spice notes over a black pepper and dried Provence herb background with a hint of mossy bark. Medium-bodied, elegantly styled and with delicate earth and spice notes accenting the restrained red fruits, it has a fine-grained frame and persistent peppery suggestions on the finish.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.