Pinot noir

2008 Chula Viña Pinot Noir $28.00/bottle
Monterey County AVA
Planted in the foothills of the Gavilan Mts. Chula Viña vineyard enjoys warm afternoon sunshine while benefiting from the cooling breezes and fog that help make our region a Pinot Noir hot spot. Its dark cherry, spicy and toasty character complement the velvety tannins that all come together to satisfy our desire to produce region defining Pinot Noir.

2008 Monterey County Pinot Noir $26.00/bottle
Monterey County AVA
The grapes included in this blend were harvested from three distinct sites: two vineyards on opposite sides of the Salinas Valley—Chula Viña and Tondre Grapefield,  and from our own estate vineyard Hilltop Ranch in Carmel Valley.  Chula Viña tends to express very broad dark fruit, nice tannin and mouthfeel. Tondre is a classic Pinot: aromatic, delicate, complex yet full-bodied. Hilltop Ranch Pinot is bold, dark, expressive. Everything about this wine was handmade in our minimalist approach.  This wine was pressed off into French Oak barrels of which 28% were new. There is rested for 10 months before being racked in place prior to blending and bottling. Unfined, unfiltered.

2010 Chalone Pinot Noir $33.00/bottle
Antle Vineyard, Chalone AVA
Produced from “old” clones that had made their way into California via suitcases owned by enthusiastic winemakers and vineyardists. These clones have been replaced over the past 15 years by newer clones that have been very widely planted across the state and with that replanting perhaps we’ve lost a little history and diversity. So it is a great privilege (not to mention fun!) to offer this wine – made entirely from the “Chalone” clone – a suitcase clone brought from France by Dick Graff.

2008 Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir $40.00/bottle
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA  305 cases   Bottled 8/09
It is the complexity of this wine we admire most.  Dark berry and ripe fruit aromas are abundant, but it’s the swirl of bacon, mineral and cocoa we hope you will enjoy.

2009 Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir $45.00/bottle
Santa Lucia Highlands  Bottled 9/10
This is our fifth release from this most remarkable vineyard. Spicy, sweet oak, cherry, dried rose aromas; well integrated oak and cherry, rhubarb, and raspberry flavors; long textural finish.

2007 Hilltop Estate Pinot Noir $60.00/bottle now $48.00
Monterey 167 cases Bottled 9/07
The 2nd Vintage of our Carmel Valley ranch vineyard. 700 ft above sea level and 14 miles from the ocean. A dark crimson Pinot Noir with blueberry, sassafras and smoky aromas and flavors. Aged 11 months in French oak and is unfined and unfiltered.