Santa Barbara County

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Tipping the scales at only 13.2% alcohol, this is our lowest alcohol pinot in 16 years. But like all of the numerical statistics of winemaking, it’s pretty irrelevant. What’s important is that the wine tastes great! A lively aroma of herbs, spices and an exciting raspberry quality play well with its savory, juicy flavors.

The Presidio vineyard is a biodynamic and organic labor of love by Doug Braun. In 2008 it produced a small crop of the tiniest clusters of grapes I have ever seen. The berries were so small I knew with the first heat spell they would turn from ripe to raisins in a day, so I felt fortunate that we were able to get them off the vine in perfect condition. At the winery we destemmed the fruit and put it in a fermenter for a cold soak. After six days the native yeast started fermenting and the room immediately filled with an intense aroma of raspberries. In all my years of winemaking there has only been one other pinot fermentation that was as notable (the 1996 Pisoni pinot). After about two weeks we pressed the tank, and racked the new wine into a mix of older and new french oak barrels. After 16 month of aging, the wine was delicately racked and bottled without filtration.

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir | Alcohol: 13.2% | Vinification: 30% New French Oak  with 15% whole cluster | Barrel Aging: 16 Months | Total Production: 177 cases

Press Reviews

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Celler

“Vivid ruby. A complex, spicy bouquet displays candied red fruits, rose, licorice and allspice, with a smoky overtone. Pure, energetic raspberry and cherry flavors stain the palate and pick up a deeper note of mocha with air. Powerful but graceful, with strong finishing punch and lingering smokiness. This comes in at 13.2% alcohol but doesn’t lack for power.”- JR 93 Points

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The 2008 Pinot Noir Presidio impresses for its highly nuanced inner perfume and silky tannins, both of which serve to add considerable complexity to the bold fruit. This is a truly striking, beautiful wine. Presidio is a biodynamically farmed vineyard.” – AG 92 Points

Burghound

“A fresh, pure and layered mix of upper and lower register fruit aromas that include raspberry, plum and dark berries. The detailed, intense and voluminous flavors possess a generous and velvety mouth feel before terminating in a supple, balanced and admirably persistent finish. Good stuff here too.” 90 Points