Schug Carneros Estate
2010 Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir
93 Points - Pinot Report
The 2010 vintage marked the 30th Anniversary for Schug Vineyards, a remarkable achievement for a small, family run winery, and a testament to the quality of the wines. We have been fans of Schug wines for a while, as they offer a nice balance between New and Old World styles, with plenty of California fruit but lovely elegance as well. The 2010 Heritage Reserve is in this tradition, with a perfect balance between fruity and savory flavors.
The 2010 Schug Heritage Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir is light to medium ruby in color, with garnet at the rim. Aromas of cherry, briar, boysenberry, potpourri and pine needle stream from the glass, with spice, cherry, vanilla and raspberry joining in on the palate. Direct and focused, this charming wine carries a streak of acidity and some beautiful red fruit through a pleasantly soft finish.
This is drinking beautifully now, and will age gracefully for another 5-10 years.
VINEYARDS: 42% Iund; 32% Sangiacomo; 18% Estate; 3% Brown; 3% Cornerstone; 2% Vineburg
APPELLATION: 100% Carneros
HARVEST DATES: September 14th through October 14th, 2010
SUGAR AT HARVEST: 24.7 degrees Brix average
FERMENTATION: 7 to 12 days in stainless steel punch-down fermenter, with cap submersion at
6 to 24 hour intervals
AGING / COOPERAGE: 48% aged 16 months in new French oak barrels (Allier and Vosges), and
52% aged 16 months in one to two-year old French oak barrels
ALCOHOL: 14.5% by volume
ACIDITY: TA= 0.64 g/100ml; pH = 3.56
PRODUCTION: 726 cases (12 x 750 ml)
12 cases magnums (6 x 1.5L); 12 x 3 Liter bottles
RELEASE DATE: September 1st, 2013
It’s a little hard to believe with all the rain we’ve been having in Northern California, but summer is just around the corner, and it’s definitely time to start thinking about white wines for the warmer weather. There is no shortage of light, refreshing, high acid white wines out there to choose from when you are just looking for a warm-weather quaffer, but when you want something with a little more depth and complexity, things get a bit more challenging. Especially if you are not a fan of Chardonnay, or just need a change of pace, it can be challenging to find a dry white with a little more depth. Luckily, we were able to secure an allocation of the 2008 Spring Mountain Estate Sauvignon Blanc, which beautifully expresses a Bordeaux-style white wine, with the attending richness and complexity, and also delivers plenty of fresh California fruit.
The 2008 Spring Mountain Estate Sauvignon Blanc is medium straw in color, with classic Sauvignon Blanc aromas of lime, apple, and fresh cut grass. The lively, spicy palate shows lemon peel, green apple, key lime, and even a hint of cucumber. Fermented in neutral French oak, and with 13% Semillon in the final blend, this wine has plenty of body and structure, yet bracing acidity keeps it light and refreshing. With all of the spicy, herbal elements in this wine it’s a natural match for salad, where the acidity cuts through the olive oil beautifully. Try it with fennel for an intriguing match, or pair with simply prepared fish with fresh herbs. This versatile wine is one you will want to be drinking all summer, and with WineHeist pricing, you can!
About The Winery...
Founded in 1980, Schug Carneros Estate Winery is the showcase and life-long dream of one of California's most celebrated winemakers. Walter Schug's reputation blossomed during his tenure as Founding Winemaker for Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the 1970s, where he made California’s first proprietary Bordeaux-Style blend (Insignia) and legendary vineyard designated Cabernets (Backus and Eisele Vineyards).
Drawing on his long experience in the production of fine wines in both Europe and California, Walter set up his own winery with his wife Gertrud in the cool, marine climate of the Carneros Appellation. Here he could focus on the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals that had always been close to his heart.
Learn more at www.schugwinery.com.
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Exceptional, Highly Rated, 90+ points.
Hard to find and great value.
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