Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir 2017 Red Wine

Saintsbury Carneros Pinot Noir 2017

Carneros, CA

90 pts. Wine Spectator

A great example of quality wine being crafted with the succulent grapes from the Carneros AVA. This is Pinot Noir-lover's Pinot! And at such a bargain price, you can't go wrong with this one!

WINEMAKER'S NOTES:

TASTING NOTES - Pretty but concentrated aromas of rose petal, dark cherries, cocoa, anise and cardamom.  Sweet cherry and plum entry with a zesty mid palate reminiscent of baking spices, leading into an elegant, lingering finish. Suggested Pairings: The richness of this wine pairs well with meats such as lamb, duck, and stewed curries, as well as artisanal cheeses and wild mushrooms.
 
VINEYARDS - When sourcing Pinot Noir fruit, we seek those Carneros vineyards that offer diversity in both aspect and clonal selection. The result is a complex and vibrant Pinot Noir most reflective of the Carneros region.
 
VINTAGE 2017 - A cold off-season with plentiful rainfall led into a warmer spring. Summer continued with warmer weather, leading to steady ripening through the end of the growing season.

WINEMAKING - After night harvesting, the Pinot Noir fruit arrives at Saintsbury within the hour of its pick. The clusters are sorted and put into small open-top fermentation for gentle punch down.

Appellation: Carneros
Clones:  Swan, Pommard, Dijon 115, 667 and 777
Terroir: Carneros is known for its loam and clay soils and a mixture of flat land and rolling hillsides, which has the reliable marine fog that rolls in every evening and burns off mid-morning.
Harvest: With little pressure due to weather, we were able to spread our harvest over a 30 day period
Aging: 8 months in 15% new French Oak barrels
Alcohol: 13.7%
Production: 3,703 cases