Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A lively, spicy, vivid red that bursts from the glass with cinnamon, clove and spiced cherry aromas on a full body. Good, vibrant acidity and moderate tannins give a lift to the palate. Sour cherry, plump raspberry, forest floor and savory bay laurel flavors give plenty to enjoy. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Raspberry and cherry aromas are spiced up with pepper and forest herb on the nose of this bottling from a historic vineyard. The palate is smooth at first with strawberry and red flower flavors, but then savory elements of meat and herb add even more depth.
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Wine Spectator
This is extroverted in feel, with a mix of menthol, mulled red and black cherry, tea and sassafras notes that are a touch soft overall but generous through the finish. Offers ample fun in a near-term package.
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.