Winemaker Notes
Aromas of luscious vanilla, leather, and chaparral are matched on the rich palate as it builds with blackberry, and hints of Piccholine olive and black licorice. The long, creamy finish showcases cherry candy and a touch of cinnamon spice. Bright acidity and supple tannins complete this balanced and expressive wine.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bright red fruits, sassafras, minty herbs, and flowers define the 2023 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands. Pretty and pure, this medium-bodied effort shows considerable elegance, soft tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a forward, charming, and delicious personality.
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is an excellent introduction to the house style and the character of the vintage. Supple and textured, it boasts a beautifully articulated core of plump, sweet berry fruit and blood orange juiciness. Surprisingly structured for an appellation-level wine, the 2023 is a compelling choice for drinking in the near to medium term while the single-vineyard bottlings soften up.
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James Suckling
A generous, savory wine that's energized by great fruit acidity for good balance. Aromas of fresh herbs, red tea, red and sour cherries, then a tangy palate of raspberries, baked cherries, spearmint and thyme that's complex and interesting. Moderate tannins add to the snappy texture.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.