Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Brought up in 50% new French oak as well, the 2016 Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard offers more underbrush and stem/earthy notes. It has rocking purity of fruit on the palate, a silky texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a clean, crisp finish. This Burgundian beauty just glides across the palate and is another brilliant wine from Lato. Give bottles a year or two.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Pinot Noir The Prospect Sierra Madre Vineyard reveals a rich bouquet of ripe black cherries, cassis and dried flowers, generously framed by smoky new oak. On the palate, it's more ample and voluptuous than the Duende, with more power and a richer core of fruit that largely conceals its fine tannins. This is the most fruit-forward bottling in the Paul Lato portfolio this year, and I suspect it will be the most giving in its youth.
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.