Alpine Vineyard, Pinot Noir, 2018
A true Santa Cruz Moutain vineyard, steep and rocky, just 10 miles from the Pacific and at an elevation of between 1300 and 1400 feet. The shallow soils here are pure white chalky shale and the wine comes across as one of the highest toned, most complete wines in the range. Wild strawberry and violet notes surge from the glass in a dialled up lifted nose that leads to a palate with fine raspberry, sweet cherry and white flower elements all coming together on a finely etched delicate footprint of Pinot. There's great tension and vivid rocky minerality, it already feels like a mountain pinot, one that is surprisingly delicious already, but possesses exceptional development for potential.
critic reviews
The 2018 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard is darker in color and more aromatically dazzling out of the gate than its Horseshoe counterpart. It offers a captivating, herbal nose of black fruits, garrigue, tree bark and sweet tobacco. The palate is powerful and assertive, springing off the tongue and coating the mouth with elegant dark fruits, fine, persistent tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. The finish is intense yet full of finesse, providing a wonderful juxtaposition to the upfront attack of the palate and intensity of the nose. It is an endlessly fascinating wine on its own, and even more so with the Horseshoe next to it. Given the energy and textural vivacity on display, this should remain in the cellar for another few years to capitalize on this immense potential.
The 2018 Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard opens with striking, floral-infused aromatics that give the wine presence and structure. Savory and finely cut, with superb delineation, and tons of depth, the Alpine is positively stellar today. Layers of fruit enshroud the tannins, making them barely perceptible. The 2018 is a stunning Pinot from Alpine, a site originally planted with 17 heritage clones.