Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
This wine's charm is immediately apparent in its pure scents of roses and wild strawberries. It's an elegant, harmonious pinot noir, the fruit clean, bright and savory, gripped by fine, earthen tannins. Since 2007, Twomey's winemaker Ben Cane has been working with blocks 1, 7 and 9'all hillside blocks planted in 1996, mostly to Pommard. For this vintage, he gained access to Block N, one of the original 1972 Bien Nacido plantings, a parcel of own-rooted Martini clone. Something simple, like roast chicken, would best accompany this graceful wine.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.