Winemaker Notes
A Pinot Noir that exhibits the rich character typical of Wrath's growing area, along with a zing of spicy energy from the 667 clone.
The 2023 has a distinctive spicy character that energizes the dark cherry and mineral tones in this bottling. Made in a fresh, lively and pure style with loads of character.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir 115/667 comes from the oldest Pinot vines on the Wrath estate vineyard. Very, very light in hue and completely translucent, the 2023 appears almost like an infusion in the glass, but its concentration of aromas and flavors completely belies those visual cues. Hibiscus tea, red cherry, leather, cinnamon and blood orange form an intoxicating blend. The old vine gravitas comes through in the finesse of the tannins and persistence of the finish. Impressive.
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.”
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands. The climate is relatively warm but tempered by cool, coastal winds, allowing the regions in Monterey County an exceptionally long growing season. Bud break often happens two weeks sooner and harvest tends to be two weeks later compared to other surrounding regions.
Monterey’s coastal side, where the cooling ocean fog allows grapes to develop a perfect sugar-acid balance, excels in the production of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Warmer, inland subzones are home to fleshy, concentrated and full-bodied reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel.
Chardonnay, covering about 40% of vineyard acreage, is the most widely planted grape in all of Monterey County.