Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Shows the impeccably ripe fruitiness and purity that characterize Siduri Pinot Noirs, with the powerful structure of this celebrated vineyard. Dry and fairly tannic, the wine's flavors are of cherry pie filling, red currants, anise liqueur, chocolate and pepper spice. Fabulously hedonistic now, and should slowly build momentum for the next six years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Another top-notch effort is the deep ruby/purple-hued, forest floor and floral-scented 2007 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard. Full-bodied and dense, with excellent fruit, a beautiful texture, and sweet tannin, this lovely Pinot should age effortlessly for 8-10 years. Proprietor Adam Lee told me 10% whole clusters and 50% new oak were used during the fermentation process.
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Wine Spectator
Offers broad flavors, mixing ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's pure, rich and complex, turning elegant and supple. Full-bodied, this is long and persistent on the finish.
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.