2016 Garey Vineyard Pinot Noir - Rideau Vineyards

Earthy red cherry, ground coriander, crushed pomegranate. Fresh picked rhubarb, forest floor, dirty strawberry. Deeply aromatic explosions of Santa Rosa plum, licorice, and orange peel lead a delightfully organic and expressive attack rife with hints of turned earth, tobacco, cardamom, and wet potting soil. Complex forest tones of wild mushroom, undergrowth, and mossy tree bark emerge to bolster natural charm while intertwining with a cumin and cinnamon led blast of ethereal and exotic spice. Wafts of blooming rose, lavender, and cherry blossom reveal layers of floral lift offset by a savory and umami-laden streak of soy sauce, seaweed, leather, and wild game. Thoroughly expansive and amplified on the nose while remaining sizable yet well balanced on the palate; exhibiting a terrific mix of high, medium, and low-toned traits expressed via an alluring display of delicate power. Medium plus in body with elevated tannin supported by bright acidity. This 2016 Garey Vineyard Pinot Noir by Rideau Vineyards is a wonderfully intriguing, nuanced, and serious red from Santa Barbara County's Santa Maria Valley.

Although Pinot Noir grown in California is often noted primarily for its ability to express wildly fragrant fruit and floral tones, the best of these wines can also exude tremendous earthy complexity when shaped by the right terroir. This bottling, crafted by Rideau Vineyard using Pinot Noir sourced from the Garey Vineyard in the heart of the Santa Maria Valley, showcases a wonderful combination of captivating varietal character seamlessly married with delicious earthiness. From the moment the cork is pulled this wine fills the room with a haunting fragrance of red fruits and soil tones generously seasoned with classic Santa Maria spice. Close examination reveals an incredible balance of primary, secondary, and tertiary flavors that collide within the expansive perfume in perfect harmony and balance. This is an outstanding expression of one of California's most interesting cool climate regions.