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.
95 Points
Aromas of wild berries, black fig and ripe dark fruits are intertwined with hints of fresh mountain herbs, mineral, leather, savory spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, ripe plum, blackberry, red currants and cassis are layered with notes of wild sage, dark chocolate truffle, cinnamon, clove, and a kiss of oak.
94 Points
Opens with an aromatic burst of black cherry jam, wild huckleberry, and a hint of crushed espresso bean. On the palate, the fruit is lush and primary, but it's the secondary notes—toasted nutmeg, dark chocolate truffle, and the signature 'Dry Creek Dust'—that provide a long, savory finish.
