2016 Reserve Pinot Noir - Eden Rift Vineyards

Muddled cherry, mountain bramble, foraged mulberry. Cranberry preserve, rose petal, fresh blueberry. Peat moss and pine needle, clean cedar and chai tea. Ripe strawberries and raspberry glaze form a wild and slightly extracted fruit core, controlling the tune amidst crushed lavender, tree bark, and wet forest floor. Oak spice twinkles alongside coffee grounds and vanilla in a flash of showy wood that is still working its way towards integration. Limestone and granite chunks round out the attack with distinguishable clarity, providing a glimpse into particularly exceptional and unique terroir. Medium plus in body with subtle tannin and bright acidity. This 2016 Eden Rift Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir is an well made and authentically interesting Pinot from California's Cienega Valley.

Located along the Gabilan Mountains at the northwestern edge of San Benito County, the La Cienega Valley is home to some of California's only true limestone outcroppings. These legendary calcareous soils have long been revered by local growers and have helped produce quality wine grapes in this area for over a century, yet despite both critical acclaim and commercial success this region still flies largely under the mainstream radar. This bottling, crafted by Eden Rift Vineyards using 100% Pinot Noir sourced from the finest sections of their estate vineyard in the La Cienega Valley, is a tremendously compelling example of what makes this region so unique. This wine is bursting with juicy tart fruit and tense earthiness - simultaneously showcasing wonderful extraction and steady restraint. It is still quite young and tightly wound exhibiting nice density and a touch of a wild streak. This is simply terroir-expressive high-quality wine and deserves a place in the discussion of California's premier Pinots.