Barra of Mendocino Pinot Noir 2020
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Wine Enthusiast
A pale ruby in the glass, hedging toward an elegant rouge around the perimeter. Initial aromas include red cherry, cranberry, wild raspberry, vanilla, toasted wood and a hint of forest floor. An uplifted acidity brings those fresh fruits to light on the palate–a palate that presents complementing spices of dried nutmeg and cardamom not initially sensed on the nose. Well balanced with layers of flavors leading to a lingering finish.
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2019-
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Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.