2016 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir - Presqu’ile Winery

Earthy dark cherry, oyster mushroom, farmstand strawberry. Fragrant blood orange, blooming lavender, wild blackberry. Tilled soil and dry crunchy leaves, ground cumin and citrus spice. Tart pomegranate, cranberry juice, and rhubarb preserves muddle with forest floor and tobacco leaf in a tense and tightly wound yet remarkably expressive attack. Aromatic charm builds with time in the glass as coriander, nutmeg, and cardamom flutter and whirl in a flurry of complex and high-toned earthy spices. Wildflowers and evergreen waft above undulating sandy hills as pimento olive and sea breeze leave a beautiful briny impression. Impressively focused and precise; expressing incredible nuance and depth within a refreshingly tart, perfectly balanced, and innately pretty presentation. Medium in body with moderate tannin and elevated acidity. This 2016 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir by Presqu'ile Winery is a spectacularly executed and wonderfully delicious red from California's central coast.

Located on the western edge of Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley and heavily influenced by the cold Pacific Ocean, Presqu'ile Winery has become known for producing some of California's very best Pinot Noir. This bottling, crafted by Presqu'ile using primarily estate fruit plus a bit from nearby Bien Nacido, is an outstanding expression of the Santa Maria Valley's world-class terroir. While it contains no shortage of wonderfully expressive fruit this wine is driven primarily by its distinct Santa Maria spice profile, which manifests itself with an incredible earthy edge incomparable to what is found in any of the surrounding regions. This wine sits somewhere between the modern and classic styles of Pinot and is as contemplative as it is generous. An exceptional bottle here by Presqu'ile.