Wild dark cherry, loose leaf tea, mulberry patch. Fresh huckleberry, wet forest floor, juicy blood orange. Beautifully expressive yet earthy eruptions of black raspberry, strawberry, and rhubarb pie highlight a wonderfully unmanipulated and authentic fruit core bursting with intriguing notes of sauteed mushroom, tobacco, and captivating organic funk. Wafts of iris, rose petal, and lavender elegantly emerge to contribute layers of lifted floral perfume while suggestions of loamy soil, dried leaves, and coffee bean simultaneously advance a procession of gorgeous natural tones. A range of exotic herbs and spices led by anise, cinnamon, coriander, and cardamom further bolster aromatics while undertones of clay provide one final bit of earthy delight. Impressively deep and expansive yet still pretty and high-toned on the nose with a palate that is just as complex as it is lively; exhibiting outstanding focus, purity, and drive in a presentation interlaced with charmingly wild and rugged nuances. Barely medium plus in body with elevated tannin carried by bright acidity. This 2017 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir by Bruliam Wines is a magnificently multidimensional and well balanced red from the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Located in Monterey County along the eastern foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, the Santa Lucia Highlands is one of California's premier Pinot Noir growing regions thanks to cold ocean fog that blows in daily from the Monterey Bay. This bottling, crafted by Bruliam Wines using Pinot Noir sourced from the legendary Soberanes Vineyard, showcases the amazing depth and complexity this region's best Pinots are capable of expressing. This wine elegantly radiates a range of aromatic black and red fruits that are challenged for superiority by interesting damp earthiness, bright floral tones, and an intriguing selection of herbal and spiced characteristics. While certainly full flavored and bold this retains a nice sense of delicateness and finesse, and is an excellent candidate for another 5-10 years of age to allow its intriguing tertiary qualities to further develop. Outstanding.