It’s Been Said that California Struggles with Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir grape is known for being quite fickled; it enjoys a cool growing season yet then demands warmth close to harvest time. In California, cooler areas eventually became identified as prime places to grow Pinot Noirs. The Santa Rita Hills, Russian River Valley, Mendocino’s Anderson valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands all feel into that category.

Santa Lucia Highlands met the Pinot Noir Needs

Along Monterey’s County’s fertile Salinas Valley, the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains separate the Valley from the Pacific Ocean. This allows the vines in this area to take advantage of the cooling ocean breezes and the fogs from Monterey Bay.  The wine grapes here enjoy some of the longest “hang time” in California with the gentle slow ripening of the fruit and create exceptionally intense, complex, and balanced grapes. 

For Californian Pinot Noirs; 2007 was a Very Good Year!

As the  2007 Pinot Noir harvest wrapped up  in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, the  winegrowers reported the  potentially “best ever” quality harvest along with lower-than normal yields.

At Paraiso Vineyards, 2007 marked the thirty-first Pinot Noir crush at this district’s founding estates. Vineyard manager and second generation owner, Jason Smith, reported that they picked approximately 250 tons of Pinot Noir, about 30% below normal for the property. Said Smith:

“A very cool spring paired with little rainfall led to smaller clusters and lower bunch weights; the resulting fruit is very concentrated – color and almost perfect acid balance point to a potentially ‘best ever’ Paraiso vintage,”

Even at Neighboring vineyards the harvest results were along the same lines:
At Pisoni Vineyard, Gary Pisoni predicted that the  ‘07 Pinots would be fantastic with darkness, intensity, and great acidity.  Meanwhile, Dan Lee of neighboring Morgan Winery concluded that the eventual 2007 wines “should be exceptional. With a cool September, we got the extended ‘hang time’ we needed. The Pinot Noir has great color and excellent, mature flavors without excessive sugar.”

Is it the Best Pinot Noir?

They were not lying or pulling our legs. Granted, I adored a Pinot Noir way before Sideways pushed Merlot out of the way and made Pinot Noir a “red wine star”. I have always found that most Pinots have a  sophisticated poised fruit / acid balance  the makes them incredibly food-versatile and very much likened by my pallet. I have been known to drink a few favorites with real tears in my eyes due to the perfection.  While I am not quite crying yet, this is a really beautiful smooth drinking Pinot.

Paraiso’s Pinot Noir does Not Disappoint

The color is rich and dark; the light hits it perfectly with a shot of ruby intensity.  Immediately uncorked, it’s completely drinkable and deliciously so; though as I sip the slight changes in the complexity keeps me wanting to pour a little bit more, again and again.
The aroma is sweet, yet invigorating; never too rough at all. Before sipping the subtle strawberry seemed stronger, yet after sipping the deeper mineral and earthy goodness draws me back in again. The Paraiso does that “thing” that I love Pinot Noirs for; there is like an explosion of joy in your mouth upon sipping.  First sweet, full of berry, then a long finish with tannins and goodness that is well structured and leaving the drinker wanting more.
Other tasting notes call for flavors of nutmeg, pepper, smoke, Bing cherry, red currant, strawberry, tobacco leaf, vanilla, bay laurel and cedar. It is rich and complex and I totally agree with this quote:

“The finish is a beautiful mix of sweet and savory notes which linger in lovely harmony.”

A Pinot Noir that is Perfectly Impressive

Incredibility affordable at $19.00 a bottle, the 2007 Paraiso Californian Pinot Noir is indeed a treasure. With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect gift to have on hand that will really impress who ever might receive it from you! With a well deserved Wine Spectator Rating of  92, this tastes like a $75 dollar a bottle Pinot Noir, and the only thing that lacking is a much needed cheese platter that would only make this experience even more impressive.