TN: A little late to the party

[Larry Stein]

I really despise the overwhelming majority of the wines of what passes for Pinot Noir in CA. Overripe Dijon cloned, low acid, high alcohol. I have a visceral response (not a pleasant one) to even the slightest bit of cola.

Yesterday, I attended Pinot Paradise. All Santa Cruz Mountain appellation wines and wineries. Appx. 40 wineries, 60 or so wines. Like other Pinot skeptics, I had heard that the real deal was being made there, but just never bothered to check it out.

For sure, there were a good many mediocre wines (very few bad ones), but I tasted some real honest wines. Any cola detection was a rare exception. Oak use was minimal, acids were good, alcohol for the most part was restrained. I didn't taste a single "Pinot as Syrah" wine. There definitely seems to be a SC signature black cherry component.

I don't have my notes handy so this is by memory. Excellent wines from Mount Eden (well, duh), House Family (wines made by Jeffrey Patterson), Odonata, Heart O' the Mountain, Sonnet, Mountain Winery, Villa Del Monte, Vino Tabi, Kings Mountain, Silvertip and I'm sure a couple of others.

 

[Steve Edmunds]

One word: Rhys

 

[Larry Stein]

They weren't at this event nor was Windy Oaks.

 

[Jay Miller]

I still have the suspicion that Santa Cruz may be finest terroir in CA.

But what do I know?

 

[Brian C]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
I still have the suspicion that Santa Cruz may be finest terroir in CA.

But what do I know?

It's likely the most nuanced in terms of microclimates and soils.

 

[Jeff Connell]

originally posted by Jay Miller:
I still have the suspicion that Santa Cruz may be finest terroir in CA.

I don't have this suspicion. My suspicion is that there are many very fine terriors in California (And who could say which is finer?), a few of which are surely found in the Mountains near Santa Cruz.