There are a whole slew of new winemakers buying Pinot Noir grapes from the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Lucia Highlands and making first class Pinot Noir wine from them.  Santa Lucia Highlands is in the Monterrey/ Salinas area, south of San Francisco, whereas Santa Rita Hills is rougly midway between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.  Some of the better known wineries operating out of these areas are Roar, Loring, Siduri, and A.P. Vin, to name a few.  Although Santa Lucia and Santa Rita are quite a ways apart, the same wineries seem to buy grapes from both areas.  Some of the most famous vineyards in Santa Lucia include Rosella's and Gary's Vineyard, whereas in Santa Rita Hills, the Clos Pepe Vineyard reigns supreme, at least for Pinot Noir.

The 2004 A.P. Vin Clos Pepe Vineyard is a beautiful wine.  It has more of what I call the French Funk than Pinots from Napa and Sonoma, but not as much as the Santa Lucia wines.  The wine has a certian earthy, leathery, truffle like bouquet, followed by plenty of raspberry and cherry on the palate.  The finish is smooth, and lasts for about 20 seconds.  Tannins are well integrated.  The wine comes with a screw-top closure.  Approximately 40 dollars at the WineSellar in Sorrento Mesa.

3.75 stars

 

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