92 Points - Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2015
Gold Medal - 2015 Pinot Noir Shootout
Vineyard Notes
Found at the base of the Santa Lucia Mountains, up against the 50-foot palisade that defines the “Riverbed” terrain from the benchland, this 60-acre vineyard features meager surface soil over dense hard-pan subsoil. The vines on this windy property are naturally low-yielding and consist of multiple varietials, including seven clones of Pinot Noir.
Winemaking Notes
The Pinot Noir was hand-harvested on October 10, 2012. At the winery, the fruit was gently crushed and de-stemmed with the must racked to macro-bins. Cold-soaked for two days, the juice was inoculated with RC212 (Burgundy yeast isolate) and spent 2 weeks extracting color and flavors from the skins. The wine was pressed shortly after dryness and racked to French oak barrels. Aged for eleven months, the resulting wine was bottled on September 26, 2013.
Tasting Notes
This wine epitomizes the elegance and broad character profile of Pinot Noir from the Arroyo Seco AVA’s riverbed channel. Loaded with red-tone fruit characters, the bouquet fills with cranberry, cherry, raspberry cream and dusty plum. In its recesses, aromas of pomegranate, sandalwood, baking spice, rose petal and earthy notes abound. On the palate, the flavors carry through with balance achieved between the vibrant acidity, and fleshy yet firm tannins.
Vineyards: Cedar Lane Vineyard
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: 50% - Pommard Clone 4, 50% -“Dijon” Clone 667
Harvest: October 10, 2012
Aging: French Oak, 14% New Dargaud Jaegle, Mercurey & Taransaud
Bottled: September 26, 2013
Acidity: 0.61
pH: 3.89
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 156 cases
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
Inky, plush, and cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
91 Points
Shimmering ruby-purple hue. The nose is a walk through a damp Sonoma forest—mossy bark and wild earth—brightened by high-toned notes of cranberry sauce and blood orange. On the palate, it's generously long in the mouth, with good concentration. It's a masterclass in tension: intense, cherry and red current fruit meets dark spice and fine, sandy tannins.
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.
96 Point Vintage
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
New Release
A ferociously fun Napa Valley blend with depth, balance and big flavor. Aromas of red currant, fresh strawberries, black plum, vanilla, and notes of cocoa on the nose. The palate is bursting with fruit ranging from cherries, mixed berry compote, toasted hazelnut and more. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.
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