2016 Estate “Reserve” Pinot Noir - El Rey Wine

Strikingly expansive and outgoing waves of lush Bing cherry, ripe boysenberry, wild blueberry, and blood orange highlight a plush and hauntingly expressive fruit core beautifully awash with complex umami notes of sauteed mushroom, black olive, leather, and dried seaweed. Wafts of crushed lavender, rose petal, and potpourri cheerfully emerge to enhance aromatics via gorgeously perfumed floral character that rises above intriguing natural impressions of forest floor, turned earth, and fallen leaves. Elegant spice tones of cardamom, anise, cinnamon, and nutmeg contribute additional layers of dimension and depth while unquestionably coastal suggestions of ocean fog and fresh salinity provide pleasant reflections of terroir.  Impressively multidimensional, silky, and seductive on the palate while maintaining excellent balance alongside a distinct sense of weightless power; exhibiting a beautifully textured and fully mature presentation that combines generous fruit with irresistible tertiary development. Medium-plus bodied with silky resolved tannin backed by moderate acidity. This 2016 Estate "Reserve" Pinot Noir by El Rey Wine is a captivating and terroir expressive red from Santa Barbara County. 

Located west of the famed Santa Rita Hills near the historic La Purisima Mission, the El Rey Vineyard is one of Santa Barbara County's westernmost vineyard sites and because of this its grapes have to endure cold ocean winds and fog that are even more intense than the rest of the county. This bottling, crafted by El Rey Wine using Pinot Noir sourced from their eponymous estate vineyard, is an outstanding example of merits of growing wine grapes in the most marginal of climates. This radiates with an incredibly aromatic range of red, blue, and black fruits enhanced by umami-rich tertiary notes, perfumed florals, complex forest tones, lifted spices, and textbook coastal earthiness. At 6 years of age this wine is drinking at its peak and is ready to consume inmediately, although it should continue to hold well for another 2-3 years without issue. Excellent.