Winemaker Notes
Talbott's Sleepy Hollow Vineyard sits at the northern edge of the Santa Lucia Highlands, 21 miles from the coast. Sandy, gravelly soils and a dramatic maritime influence increase hang time, producing Pinot Noir of intense varietal character, balanced acidity and rich flavor.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Bright and cheery fruit and rose petal aromas meet a great blend of spices, woodsy notes and generous red and black fruit in this full-bodied, estate-grown wine. Combines cranberries and red cherries with darker fruit, great acidity and a freshness through the finish. Screw cap. Drink or hold.
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Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir Sleepy Hollow Vineyard boasts a core of sweet fruit. Black licorice, black raspberry, sage and menthol open, leading to a voluptuous, generously proportioned mouthfeel with just a little edge to its tart acidity and bitter tannins. Lovely red/blue berry fruit wraps around the finish, closing with rose petals and white pepper traces. There’s quite a bit of complexity here.
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.