A really terrific Chardonnay, even better than last year’s bottling. Of course, the vintage was better, too. The wine is ripe and creamy and crisp, with luscious flavors of pineapples, pears, buttercream, vanilla custard, honeysuckle, smoke and minerals. Just beautiful, and at a good price, but only 260 cases produced.
— S.H.
(11/1/2009)
Here’s a medium-bodied, silky wine that shows the classic elegance of cool-climate winegrowing. Fully dry, with complex flavors of cherries, cola, rhubarb, coffee and spice, it has a touch of smoky oak. It’s an irresistibly yummy Pinot Noir.
— S.H.
(12/1/2005)
Starts out very full-bodied and rich, almost too heavy for Pinot Noir. Then the acids kick in to accent the silky texture, and you know it’s a ripe, ageable Pinot Noir. With deep flavors of raspberries, cherries, red currants, licorice, cocoa and peppery spices, it should develop well over the next 4–6 years.
— S.H.
(2/1/2010)
This is the winery’s best, small-production Chardonnay. It’s considerably better than their regular 2009 Chardonnay. Shows minerality and acidity that make it appealing to the connoisseur, with rich lime and apricot fruit. For all the richness, the finish is dry. Drink now.
— S.H.
(7/1/2011)
This is a flamboyant wine made in the oaky style. It’s opulent in pineapple, golden mango and pear flavors, with a coating of sweet oak. The richness is brightened by tart acidity. Drink this flashy wine now, with the richest fare you can.
— S.H.
(7/1/2012)
Inky dark, full-bodied, dry and, in a word, huge. That’s this Pinot, which shows typical Santa Lucia power. Densely concentrated in raspberry, cherry and blackberry fruit, it’s strong in tannins, but they’re velvety soft. An interesting wine, not particularly Pinot-esque, but delicious and possibly ageworthy.
— S.H.
(5/1/2011)
This little appellation in the Salinas Valley is on an upswing with Pinot Noir, as evidenced by this fine bottling. It’s rich, as you’d expect from the perfect 2007 vintage, and well balanced, with the cherry, raspberry, cola and spice flavors bracketed by crisp acidity and smooth tannins. Probably not an ager, but a wine to watch.
— S.H.
(5/1/2011)
A real delight for its delicious drinkability, and a revelation for Monterey Merlot. Shows the acidity and varietal purity of the Arroyo Seco region, with intense plum and blackberry flavors balanced by a rich earthiness.
— S.H.
(5/1/2013)