Alesia, Santa Cruz Mountains, Pinot Noir, 2018
Produced from fruit from the Rhys Santa Cruz Mountains single vineyard sites Alesia 2018 purrs with bittersweet berry fruit, touches of orange and gentle stony notes over a pliant and wonderfully supple structure. Pure and immediate, yet not simple, this offers up gorgeous pinot fruit in a ripe yet restrained style, with fine tannins set just right amidst polished fresh ripe fruit. Finely crafted; generous yet fresh; a great introduction to the range.
critic reviews
The 2018 Alesia Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains is immediately wide open on the nose, with pretty aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, red licorice and wild herbs. The palate is svelte and solid, braced with quenching and delicious acidity. On the finish, a mild, understated tannin structure gains sturdiness with air while remaining seamless and inviting. The style here hints at what one finds in the single-vineyard wines at Rhys but remains relatively ready for consumption.
The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) is another fabulous appellation-level wine from Alesia, the sister label of Rhys. Red berry, spice, rose petal and dried herbs all grace this wonderfully expressive, vibrant Pinot Noir. Far from an easygoing entry-level wine, the Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot offers quite a bit of intensity in a mid-weight style that favors energy over heft.