North America | California | Thomas Fogarty | Santa Cruz Pinot Noir

Santa Cruz Pinot Noir

VARIETAL
Pinot Noir

NOTES
VINEYARD: Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards from four distinct regions within the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA: the fractured shales of the estate's Will’s Cabin Vineyard high upon Skyline Blvd; coastal Corralitos; the cool La Honda region, and the Summit Rd area, which has the highest elevations in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Each vineyard is vinified to highlight it’s own signature identity; this blend harmonizes and intensifies the regional Santa Cruz Mountains character. A combination of organic, sustainable and biodynamic practices.

VINIFICATION: Each parcel is vinified separately and blended after primary and malolactic fermentation takes place under spontaneous conditions with native yeasts.

TASTING NOTES: The 2016 Vintage was another drought year, with early bud-break, bloom and veraison. Poor weather during the early bloom caused shatter and millerandage (a potential viticultural hazard problem in which grape bunches contain berries that differ greatly in size and, most importantly, maturity. Its most common cause is cold, rainy or otherwise bad weather during the flowering stage of the vines. While millerandage will always cause a drop in yield, its potential impact on wine quality will vary, particularly by grape variety. For some varieties that are prone to uneven ripeness within a cluster, such as Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Gewürztraminer, the development of millerandage may be unfavorable due to "green flavors" from the potentially unripe grapes hidden within the cluster. For other varieties, such as Pinot Noir, wine quality could be improved due to the reduced overall berry size and higher skin to juice ratio). Vine stress became an issue late in the year with many of the dry-farmed vines showing water and nutrient stress for the first time. The resulting wines are bright and energetic with mid-weight personalities. They are profoundly aromatic and balanced wines that are site expressive and pure.

PRESS/REVIEWS: The 2016 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Expressive red berry and crushed flower overtones run through a translucent, beautifully expressive Pinot that captures the essence of the Santa Cruz Mountains. All the elements simply fall into place. What a beautiful wine this is. -- Antonio Galloni 91 (VINOUS, 8.16.2018)

Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the appellation 2016 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains is a winner with its pretty notes of raspberries, flowers, and rose garden. It’s medium-bodied, incredibly seamless, and elegant. Seeing plenty of stems and 17 months in one-third new oak, it’s absolutely on the level of the single vineyards. — 92 points, Jeb Dunnuck