GOLD MEDAL: Pinot Noir Shootout, 2011
Indigené Cellars has only recently released their first wines, but owner and winemaker Raymond Smith has been in the wine business for over 20 years as the owner/operator of a mobile bottling line, and that experience is clearly paying off as Raymond begins producing his own wine. All five of the wines that made up his first release were awarded medals in the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, which is quite an accomplishment. We were lucky enough to try a few of the wines and were able to secure a small allocation of the 2007 Pinot Noir, from the Santa Maria Valley.
The 2007 Indigené Cellars Pinot Noir is pale garnet in color, with a complex nose of cherry, raspberry, watermelon and dark earth. The palate shows classic pinot flavors of cherry and strawberry, with a distinctive earthy, spicy finish. Good length and lush, ripe, full flavors leave a big impression on the palate. The Santa Maria Valley is slowly gaining recognition as a top growing region for Pinot Noir, and wines like this, that deftly balance power and elegance are the reason why. Don’t miss out on the chance to stock up on Pinot Noir from a great vintage and a region you are going to be hearing a lot more about in the years to come.
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96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes right out of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
