Rudy Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2014
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Wong
Wilfred
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This delightful Pinot Noir has a bouquet of fresh blackberries and blueberries. Fine tannins compliment an excellent acidity and rich red fruits
The 2014 Rudy Pinot Noir is sourced from the Sta. Lucia Highalnds located along California’s Central Coast. Fermentation last for around 20 days at which point the pinot is then pressed and barreled for 12 months in French oak. The wine is split between 70% neutral and 30% new oak.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Bright and pleasingly soft, the delicate 2014 Rudy Pinot Noir does a great job in respecting the elegance of this grape variety. The wine's smooth textures pair it well with fresh salmon sashimi. (Tasted: August 11, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.