Belle Glos Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
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Wilfred
Wong -
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Spectator
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Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet in color with an aromatic medley of black cherry, marionberry, ripe plum and a hint of anise. Dark fruit on the palate with flavors of wild berries, caramelized oak and cacao nibs complemented by subtle notes of vanilla, cedar and a hint of lavender and forest floor. Rich and unrestrained, this wine’s abundant fruit is beautifully balanced by firm acidity and layers of red and black fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A rather forceful example of the grape variety, the 2016 Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir comes through with fine black fruit aroma and flavors. Wood shows up on the palate as the wine completes its journey to its finish. Pair the wine's richness with a well-marbled steak. ((Tasted: October 27, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Creamy oak is the salient feature in this appealing effort, marked by snappy wild berry, raspberry, gravelly earth and vanilla flavors. Drink now through 2025.
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Robert
Parker
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.