2014 Big Basin Vineyards Coast Grade Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

12.8% alc., 95 cases, allocated to mailing list. This vineyard, owned and farmed by multi-generation Santa Cruz Mountains farmer Jim Beuregard, is located in Bonny Doon, a few miles north of Santa Cruz, 3 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean at 1,300 feet elevation. A limestone quarry across the street hints at the geology below the vineyard surface (sandy loam over limestone base rock). Clone 115, six years of age. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Intoxicating aromas of cherry, spice, pine sap, rose petal and burnt tobacco. Noticeable mid palate presence of middleweight cherry and red currant fruit flavors framed by modest tannins and a hint of oak. Juicy, with plenty of sweet red fruit tang, an overlay of stem and forest floor, intriguing textural interest, and a long finish. This wine shows the most whole cluster character of the 2014 Big Basin Pinot Noirs and may be overbearing unless you welcome this stylistic dimension. Score: 91. Reviewed February 1, 2017

Winery: Big Basin Vineyards
From article: Big Basin Vineyards: Whole Cluster Goodness Again