Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $16.97
This is truly delicious Pinot Noir from cool-climate coastal vineyards about 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara. Everything to love about Pinot Noir can be found in this wine: intense aromatics of red berries, hints of English breakfast tea and ripe plums. It is light on its feet, but not too light, with a mouth-watering sapidity that demands you take the next sip. Winemaker Bob Varner sent us an email describing the making of this Pinot which we will share unedited. It is an excellent example of non-interventionist winemaking from an accomplished vigneron.
“The grapes come from the Los Alamos Vineyard, half way between the town of Los Alamos and the ocean. It’s just about as close to the ocean as is possible to grow Pinot Noir. I pick from two blocks there, both are fairly steep slopes with sandy loam soil and marine rocks both at the surface and below. One block is clone 115 and the other is clone 777. Both came in the end of September/early October with the 777 coming in first. Jim and I like those blocks for their ability to achieve balanced flavors at moderate alcohols. At the winery, the fermentation is slow and cool in the beginning and pressed just at dryness to preserve the natural tannin structure of the grapes. The wine is aged in stainless steel, again to preserve the structure of the wine with the least manipulation. The key is picking at just the right time and then letting the natural process of fermentation do the rest.”
Drink this versatile wine with almost everything you could possibly imagine that isn’t spicy hot. Also, a wine that can be enjoyed on its own sipping with friends, family, or gliding solo in the quiet company of your own thoughts.
