2014 Mindego Ridge "Estate" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

Sporting a vibrant ruby color, the 2014 Pinot Noir has awesome fruit intensity in its bright black raspberry, Bing cherry, lavender and distinct floral characteristics. Upfront, medium-bodied, seamless and polished, with bright acidity and a clean finish, this is a beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir that will be better with short-term cellaring and keep through 2023. The Gollnick family continues to make a brilliant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the estate Mindego Ridge Vineyard. There's not much of these to go around, but they're well worth the extra effort to track down! (JD)

I love how both of the 2014 offerings from Mindego Ridge offer up a perfect synthesis of varietal and place. The Pinot Noir immediately communicates is terroir of coastal mountains, coniferous forests and pacific ocean breezes. The wine has such a delicate yet distinctive perfume: crunchy black and red berries, mulling spices, pine needles, fruitcake. One the palate the wine is concentrated but focused, it has feeling of small, tight, clusters of fruit and a perfect balance of ripeness and acidity. Whilst the fruit expression is pure Pinot Noir, I also love that this wine embraces just a dash of the varietals savory side; there's bramble, forest floor and slatey minerals. Such a complete, complex and compelling wine that continues evolving with every sip.