We’re quickly approaching Thanksgiving, and a few have already scored their birds, be they turkeys or the much less conventional sport hens or duck. Some are planning on slow-roasted pork shoulders, cooked at low warmth for hours, with root greens. All of those dishes are good for pinot noir, and we occur to have a plethora of them within the Santa Clara Valley.
For a pinot that’s extra “noir” than mild and brilliant, take a look at the 2013 and 2014 vintages from Kings Mountain Vineyards. These are effectively endowed with the sweetness derived from new French oak because it mellows and imparts its caramel toastiness. In the event you favor a lighter, extra red-fruited fashion, their 2019 releases are on process.
Kings Mountain will likely be pouring, together with many different native wineries—together with Lago Lomita Vineyards, Madson Wines, Mindego Ridge, Neely, Saison, Thomas Fogarty, Windy Oaks and Wrights Station—on the Menlo Park Wine Stroll on Dec. 3. Kings Mountain Vineyards may also be pouring on the Saratoga Vacation Wine Stroll on Nov. 25.
Neely and Wrights Station pinots are additionally within the “noir” class, emphasizing the darker spectrum of fruit, whereas Madson, Mindego and Thomas Fogarty journey that knife fringe of acid a bit extra intently and hew towards crimson raspberry and strawberry.
I completely love 2017 Fogarty Rapley Path pinot noir, grown on a southeast-facing ridge above the valley, constructed for ageing but approachable now.
Someplace in the midst of the highway are pinots with good fruit, good acid and never an excessive amount of of anyone factor: they are typically crowd pleasers. I’d put the present releases from Sarah’s Winery in Gilroy in that bucket. Each the 2020 property pinot noir and chardonnay purpose to please. Equally, the 2020 Ferrari Ranch chardonnay and pinot noir from Corralitos are in that camp. Actually, Windy Oaks Property 2020 pinot noir can be in that class: a breezy, fruity but properly rounded wine.
One other crowd pleaser is the brand new 2021 Cinnabar pinot noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains, which hails from Bailey’s Winery above Scotts Valley. It’s actually plush and pleasing, with virtually no overt oak affect. One other native producer exhibiting pinot promise is Roberts Ranch out of Ben Lomond. The 2019 property is actually pretty, with a broad beam of savory and fruity and loads of depth.
In the event you favor your pinot on the opaque aspect, John Benedetti of Sante Arcangeli has a tasting room in Aptos, close to Mentone, and a seasonal one at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero.
On this identical camp is one other well-known and long-loved label, Windy Oaks, doing the Santa Cruz Mountains proud with wines impressed by the various journeys to Burgundy that proprietors Jim and Judy Schultze have loved for many years. Translucent and divinely perfumed, the 2019 Deux Grand Crus is a mixture of two clones, SBC (Particular Burgundy Clone) and Chambertin, each grown at their property winery.
The 2020 Windy Oaks Wild Yeast and the 2019 Proprietor’s Reserve each have an earthy high quality. The latter combines the winemaker’s favourite barrels to realize aromatics of orange peel and fragrance.
For all these wines, the ageing potential is big, however their enjoyment issue proper now's monumental. In contrast to wines that should be laid down, these are standing up and able to be uncorked.