Winemaker Notes
We love the fruit from the high altitude Boekenoogen Vineyard, and we feel privileged to make wine with it. Wrath's 2016 Pinot Noir—our seventh vintage from this spectacular vineyard—has complex layers of red and dark fruit combined with a slight note of mint on the nose. A lively palate has rhubarb, flowers, black cherry and stone fruit, held together by bright acidity and a lengthy finish.
Established in 1998, John Boekenoogen transformed his family’s fifth generation cattle ranch into a vineyard producing outstanding grapes. John’s Great Grandfather, George Boekenoogen, came across the United States in covered wagons in search of gold in the late 1850’s. When gold mining did not pan out as planned George Boekenoogen decided to come to the Salinas Valley, purchase property, and start The Boekenoogen Cattle Ranch. As we all know too well, times change and John Boekenoogen saw the property’s potential of producing high quality wine grapes, he began turning the ground over in the 1990’s just as his Great Grandfather did in the 1870’s but instead of raising hay to winter cattle, John is growing grapes which consist of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, now in an area that is known as one of the finest wine regions in California for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and also becoming known for it’s cool climate Syrahs, the Santa Lucia Highlands. Certified Sustainable.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Pinot Noir Boekenoogen Vineyard, which was mostly destemmed and brought up in 30% new oak, is one of the gems in the vintage. Boasting Burgundian notes of dark fruits, cracked walnuts, ground herbs, and forest floor, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, perfect balance, and the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of this great vintage. This is a brilliant bottle of Pinot Noir that will be better with a year in bottle and keep for a decade.
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.