2018 Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir - Tolosa Winery

Plump strawberry, young rose, farm stand raspberry. Tart Bing cherry, tea leaf, rhubarb puree. Perfectly elegant and highly aromatic eruptions of juicy pomegranate, cranberry, and orange slice boom with expressive yet delicate concentration as hints of Bella mushroom, pine needle, and forest floor gently reveal layers of well integrated natural charm. Wafts of wild lavender and orchard blossom gracefully emerge to provide gorgeously ethereal floral perfume further enhanced by notes of cinnamon, coriander, tarragon, and flawlessly integrated spices. Incredibly terroir-expressive impressions of ocean air, sandy soil, and fresh salinity carry a thread of clean and captivating earthiness that stands tall within the expansive yet thoroughly weightless display. Hauntingly alluring and fragrant on the nose while remaining pretty, poised, and polished on the palate; exhibiting an exciting combination of astounding depth and balance while maintaining restraint despite impressive complexity. Medium in body with moderate tannin brightened by elevated acidity. This 2018 Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir by Tolosa Winery is a seductive and attention grabbing red from Santa Barbara's Santa Maria Valley.

Located in northern Santa Barbara County just miles from the cold Pacific Ocean, the Santa Maria Valley is one of California's greatest cool climate viticultural zones and produces some of the state's very best Pinot Noir. This bottling, crafted by Tolosa Winery from the legendary Solomon Hills Vineyard, brilliantly showcases the outstanding terroir of this bucolic agricultural region. From the moment the cork is pulled this wine elegantly emits a range of beautifully aromatic tart red fruits enhanced by lofty floral tones, fragrant spices, salty earthiness, and bits of wonderful organic complexity. While still quite youthful this wine already exhibits all of the hallmarks of top notch Central Coast Pinot, and it will surely be even more mind-blowing with another 5-10 years of bottle age. Incredible.