Winemaker Notes
Above the deep and gorgeous robe of color, the 2016 Estate Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of cherry and cola with hints of fruit, leather and undertones of plum. The wine is silky in texture. Focused black cherry flavors dance on the palate, and an elegant dash of vanilla sweetens the wine for a long, inviting finish. When young, this wine is best appreciated when decanted prior to serving.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Spicy floral Hungarian oak aromas and rich, detailed and concentrated fruit and spice-rack flavors give great appeal to this full-bodied and well-balanced wine. It has a plush layered texture, a great foundation of black cherry and complex tea, plus interwoven notes of cinnamon and forest floor.
Editors' Choice
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.