Winemaker Notes
Medium red hue. Enchanting scents of jasmine, cherry cola, pomegranate and lemon-zest start off this Pinot Noir. Following some time in glass, notes of anise, orange sorbet, and vanilla bean flow and round out the aroma profile. While many of these qualities persist on the palate, notes of grapefruit, crème brulee, and lemon meringue catapult into the flavor matrix. Very fine tannins and bright acidity share a picture perfect glimpse into a fresh, vibrant, and persistent finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Rounded aromas of raspberry, dark rose-petal extract and even purple flowers make for a very complex and floral nose on this bottling from an iconic vineyard. The windswept region translates to a zippy acidity, where those rose and violet flavors float across brisk pomegranate and cracked-pepper flavors.
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James Suckling
High-toned pinot noir with ripe strawberries and fresh flowers such as lilacs with some dust. Full-bodied and layered with velvety tannins and an orange peel and dried strawberry aftertaste. Grilled meat, too. More fruit-forward than some.
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Wine Spectator
Bright and punchy, with cherry and linzer torte notes bursting forth, showing enough lively acidity to keep this honest. Reveals licorice snap hints that add to the engaging, flattering persona. Drink now through 2028. 552 cases made.
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.