Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A bouquet of wild strawberry is what first comes to mind, followed by tight, soft tannins and swirls of leathery raspberry. Several different clones of Pinot from different blocks go into this wine, an approachable, layered beauty.
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Wine Spectator
Exhibits a fresh, snappy mix of raspberry, licorice, graphite, dried herb and cedar notes, with the tannins lending the flavors traction. Drink now through 2022. 1,727 cases made.
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.