Winemaker Notes
Dark fruit, cola notes, and spice fill out the nose. Succulent black cherry and plum dominate on the palate with layers of cigar tobacco and cardamom. Gorgeous acidity and depth.
Considered a quintessential Carneros AVA vineyard site, Lee Vineyard was planted in 1967 by Ira and Shirley Lee. Saintsbury’s relationship with the Lee family formed in 1982 and that relationship was instrumental to the replanting of the vineyard, which took place in the 1990s and early 2000s with Dijon, Pommard and Swan clones.
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.