2019 Pinot Noir
Finely textured with bright fruit, lush spice, mineral acidity and silken tannins.
- Vineyard:
- Sarmento Vineyard
- Varietal Composition:
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol:
- 13.0%
- TA:
- 0.53g / 100ml
- pH:
- 3.59
- Aging:
- 10 months equal parts French and Hungarian used oak barrels
- Release date:
- June 2021
- Production:
- 498 cases
Tasting Notes:
A finely textured Pinot Noir that balances bright fruit and mineral acidity. Aromatically, this wine is red fruit-driven, with hints of spiced cherries, blackberries, mocha, lavender, iron, and black tea adding complexity. On the palate, the wine is full of bright ripe cherry, raspberry and dried rose flavors complemented by silken tannins, then finishes with a delightfully refreshing acidity and blood orange flavors. This well-balanced wine pairs with a gamut of foods, from salmon, tuna, roast chicken or pork, to wild mushrooms or beef Wellington.
Sarmento Vineyard
The grapes for this Pinot Noir are sourced from Sarmento Vineyard, named for one of the original Spanish land grant families who owned the property for generations. The sustainably farmed vines are planted high on the southeast-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountains and overlook the Salinas River Valley. These 22-year-old vines are grafted to two Pinot Noir clones: Pommard, known for its intense fruit and spice characteristics and 115, which adds perfume and structure.
Winemaking
Our winemaker, cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir expert Derek Rohlffs, takes a minimalist approach with grapes from the Santa Lucia Highlands in order to allow this cool-climate, Central Coast terroir to shine through. The grapes were harvested in mid- September and after fermentation, underwent complete malolactic conversion on the lees with no battonage to respect the berry fruit flavors. The wine then aged 10 months in a combination of used French and Hungarian oak.
