Winemaker Notes
This is the first Sonnet offering of the Gali Vineyard Pinot Noir, located in Corralitos near Watsonville. It is one of the coolest areas in the Santa Cruz Mountains and a source of many great pinots from that AVA. I am amazed at its great depth and complexity and look forward to making many more vintages from this wonderful vineyard. This first 2016 vintage, shows off its deep dark color, which leads to a wonderful mouthfilling structured wine. Black cherries and black berries are dominant, with subtle notes of oak spice and tobacco linger on the finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Quite dark aromas of black plum and licorice show on the nose of this bottling. There is a touch of age on the palate, but the wine is still alive with dark-cherry, charred plum and anise flavors.
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.”
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.