Market Watch, March 1, 2017
Pinot Noir the name alone evokes everything thats magical about wine Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay might be larger by volume but no other grape varietal in Cali fornia has quite the same mystique Pinot Noir is a fruit of the Golden States coastal climes The Central Valley churns out massive volumes just as it does with other varietals but this grapes true home is by the Pacific The ocean winds fog and salt air float above the vineyards joining with the Cali fornia sunshine and soil to produce Pinot Noir expressions that vary from light cherry and raspberry flavors in the cooler higher elevation blocks to darker richer profiles in the warmer vineyards below The wines encompass a broad landscape of flavors but all are distin guishable as being uniquely Californian In the north Pinot Noir thrives best in Anderson Valley in Mendocino County along the Sonoma Coast and in the Russian River Valley It flourishes in Los Carneros the cool Napa and Sonoma sub appellation nearest to the salt air and marine fog Down the coast in the Santa Lucia Highlands beats Pinot Noirs vibrant heart where cool ocean and mountain winds create ideal conditions for the grapes cultivation Further south nestled near the coast in Santa Barbara Coun ty are the Santa Rita Hills where Pinot Noir is again a superstar Variation In The VineyardVinification techniques have improved dramatically in California over the years and no varietal has received as much atten tion in the vineyard as Pinot Noir Indeed its producers are vineyard obsessed constantly identifying and experimenting with the best Pinot Noir clones and vine yard blocks Its a process of discovery that never seems to end even after years of impressive accomplishment 48 MARKET WATCH MARKETWATCHMAG COM MARCH 2017ITS NOT THE GOLDEN STATES BIGGEST GRAPE VARIETAL BUT PINOT NOIR HAS A MYSTIQUE THAT FILLS THE WINE SPACEBY DAVID FLEMINGopposite Pinot Noir thrives in coastal California from the Santa Lucia Highlands Hahn Family Wines vine yard pictured top to Sonoma Marimar Estate grapes pictured bottom left Meiomi bottom right leads sales CaliforniaAllurePHOTO BOTTOM LEFT COURTESY OF MARIMARMW0317_
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