Chalone Estate Pinot Noir 2021

  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
3.7 Very Good (13)
32 99
OFFER Take $20 off your order of $100+
Ships today if ordered in next 3 hours
Picked for you 3/20/24
1
Limit Reached
Picked for you 3/20/24
Alert me about new vintages and availability
Chalone Estate Pinot Noir 2021  Front Bottle Shot
Chalone Estate Pinot Noir 2021  Front Bottle Shot Chalone Estate Pinot Noir 2021  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2021

Size
750ML

ABV
14.8%

Your Rating

0.0 Not For Me NaN/NaN/N

Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir reveals aromas of freshly picked cherries, vanilla, and violet with hints of graphite and wet stone. On the palate, savory red fruit flavors of raspberry and plum are complimented with a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. A silky mouthfeel delivers a plush mid-palate with a viscosity of creamy tannins and balanced acidity.

Professional Ratings

  • 92

    Rose petal, pomegranate and an herbal blast of oregano and marjoram show on the nose of this bottling from an historic producer in the mountains east of Salinas. The palate is snappy in acidity with plenty of herbal influence, offering thyme-flecked strawberry-sauce flavors.

  • 92
    COMMENTARY: The 2021 Chalone Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir is alluring and satisfying on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of ripe berries, oaky notes, and savory spices. Pair it with grilled rosemary and garlic-infused lamb chops. (Tasted: April 5, 2023, San Francisco, CA)

Other Vintages

2019
  • 93 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
2018
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
2016
  • 91 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
2015
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2014
  • 92 Wilfred
    Wong
2013
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
2012
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
2005
  • 90 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
2004
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2002
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2001
  • 88 Wine
    Spectator
2000
  • 88 Wine
    Spectator
1999
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
Chalone

Chalone Vineyard

View all products
Chalone Vineyard, California
Chalone Vineyard  Winery Image

The Chalone Estate Vineyard is one of the most remarkable winery properties in California, and the sole winery within the Chalone AVA. The vineyard was planted in 1919, with the production under the Chalone Vineyard brand beginning in 1960. 

Chalone wines speak to the unique terroir of this wild, isolated and high-elevation mountain plateau in Monterey County, located adjacent to the Pinnacles National Monument. The wines reflect a unique character that is attributed to the area’s granitic and limestone soils as well as the large daily diurnal shifts, ultimately resulting in wines with distinct minerality and balance between ripe fruit character and bright acidity.

Image for  content section
View all products
Image for Central Coast Pinot Noir content section
View all products

Let’s start with the obvious – Central Coast Pinot Noir is an incredibly broad category. This of course is because the Central Coast appellation is enormous, and it contains several stellar Pinot Noir regions within it, all of them kept cool by elevation or proximity to the ocean (or both). So we’ll break things down a bit with a brief look at each of these: Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey and the Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. These are not the only Central Coast sources of good Pinot Noir, but they are the major ones. So let’s get started.

In the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, just west of Silicon Valley, producers craft excellent Pinot in spite of serious challenges. The land is mountainous, rugged and can be foggy, the topsoil is thin and poor and yields tend to be low. Yet Pinots from the likes of David Bruce, Martin Ray, Mount Eden and Thomas Fogarty exhibit undeniable quality, along with bright red fruit, minerality, earth and herbal hints.

Just south lies the large Monterey appellation. Monterey Pinot Noir is grown in coastal areas, taking optimal advantage of the cooling effect of the Pacific. The most highly regarded of these is the Santa Lucia Highlands. Situated on hilly benchlands south of the city of Monterey, this central coast region relies on a long growing season, night and morning fog and consistent afternoon winds to produce world class Pinot Noir. Attributes include intense, rich fruit, subtle earthy notes, spice and a silky texture. Look for producers like Siduri, Kosta Browne, Talbott and Lucienne.

The Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara County (a section of it falls into southern San Luis Obispo County) is also a haven for quality Pinot Noir. A mere 15 miles from the Pacific, the valley runs east-west, creating a natural tunnel through which ocean breezes and fog flow. This effect lengthens the growing season and promotes both ripeness and development of acidity, lending Santa Maria Valley Pinots their characteristic full flavor, balance and elegance. The famous Bien Nacido Vineyard is located here, and notable producers include Cambria, Foxen, Byron and Au Bon Climat.

Finally, we arrive at the Sta. Rita Hills, also in Santa Barbara County. Located in the western part of the Santa Ynez Valley, it too benefits from an east-west orientation that leads to the same conditions mentioned above. Once again the result is extended hang time for the grapes, which can be tasted in the vibrant, ripe red fruits evident in these Pinots, along with dense coloration and an impression of richness and intensity. Try wines from producers like Ken Brown, Ampelos, Fess Parker and Melville.

As you can see, California’s Central Coast offers a wealth of options for any lover of Pinot Noir. Cheers!

SWS561946_2021 Item# 1152978

Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
Please use a different browser like Edge, Chrome or Firefox to enjoy all that Wine.com has to offer.

It's easy to make the switch.
Enjoy better browsing and increased security.

Yes, Update Now

Search for ""