Santa Maria Valley

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A very unusual and satisfying pinot noir from the organic and biodynamic Presidio Vineyard. I have been making pinot noir here in Ojai for 19 years, and in all of those years I had never seen pinot noir fruit that looked like Presidio’s. The cluster size and berry size were shockingly small, each bunch so tiny and perfect. The wine made from these grapes was dramatic and quite extraordinary.

Pinot Noir is a nuanced wine that depends on finesse, not overt power to wow you, yet this wine possesses a little of both. With grapes, if the growing conditions are right, there seems to be a correlation between flavor intensity and size of crop. It is as if the vine can imbue the grapes it produces a finite quantity of flavor. If there is a large crop, the flavor gets spread between all of the clusters, thus diluting the flavor. In this case the tiny crop (0.7 tons per acre) and tiny berries concentrated the flavors to an amazing degree. And yet the true miracle of this wine is that although it is rich, the aromas and flavors caress the palate.

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir | Alcohol: 14.0% | Vinification: 35% New French Oak | Barrel Aging: 14 Months | Total Production: 97 cases

Press Reviews

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

“Deep red. Exotically perfumed bouquet displays raspberry liqueur, incense and dried rose, with a sexy note of spicecake gaining strength with air. Silky in texture and deeply concentrated, with unlikely freshness and clarity to the sweet red fruit flavors. Finishes brisk, with a hint of bitter cherry. This wine will also reward patience.” – JR 93 Points

Burghound

“Ripe but somber and quite restrained nose of deeply pitched earthy red berry fruit aromas complements the round, rich and solidly complex middle weight flavors that despite the backwardness of the nose are actually supple and forward before finishing with fine depth and length. This clearly needs a few years first but it should be good as there is fine underlying material and importantly, balance.” 90 Points