Ritual Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir 2014
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James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong
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James Suckling
Crushed ripe strawberries with blackberries. Some mineral undertones too. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh and racy finish. Shows some granite and slate as well. Balanced, fruity style. Drink now.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
A sly and tricky Pinot Noir, the 2014 Ritual took me on a wild and crazy joy ride and sent me into a place of heavenly delights. I was fooled at first and had to take a double take on my own notes, I just wasn't trusting myself and I was overthinking the process. Yes, this wine is special and after further review, calls for a crown roast of lamb on a mild warm day after a splash of Rosé Champagne, Yes, this the way to go! Light red, garnet color; active, almost wild red fruit aroma, attractive and pure, too much fun for the nose; medium bodied, texture on the palate; dry, medium acidity, good balance; bright red fruit flavors, with mouthwatering mineral and savory notes; medium finish, slightly soft textures in the aftertaste. (Tasted: August 12, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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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.”
A region that has become synonymous with some of the best whites of Chile, the Casablanca Valley is full of dozens of bodegas who either grow fruit here or come from outside to source from local growers for their own white wine programs. The valley runs from east to west, which means that its westernmost vineyards receive the most cooling influence from the reliable afternoon sea breezes. The soils also tend to be heavier in clay in the west, whereas the eastern end of the valley is warmer and its soils are predominantly granitic. Sauvignon blanc thrives here, Chardonnay does well and Pinot noir is not uncommon.