Winemaker Notes
The terrifically dense color is a sight for sore eyes. Aromas of fresh berries and dried rose petals abound with underlying notes of anise and citrus. Subtle elements of allspice, nutmeg, coffee, and crushed rocks add layers to this complex offering. The palate is textural, broad, and mouth-filling with a strong impression of black tea with berry fruit flavors intertwined. The acid perfectly and seamlessly balances out the richness to create a sense of Zen and harmony.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of black cherry juice, licorice and nutmeg are quite dense on the nose. The palate begins with a suave viscosity that delivers flavors of snapped sage, mulling spice and black-cherry compote. Editors’ Choice
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.”
Taking advantage of the cool Pacific breezes that arrive via gaps between the Gabilan Range and the Santa Lucia Mountains, San Benito AVA is a great Central coast source for cool climate whites and Pinot noir.