2015 Waxwing Lester Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., 50 cases, $55. Released March 2017. Fourth vintage working with this vineyard. Vines planted in 1998 and managed sustainably by Prudy Foxx. Dijon clones 667 and 115. 50% of fruit was crushed by foot whole cluster and fermented with Assmanhausen yeast. 5-day cold soak, punched down two to three times per day and aged 15 months in once-used French oak barrels. Bottled after a light filtration. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Quite savory on the nose with whole cluster aromas of stem merging with aromas of black cherry and blueberry. Light to mid weight in style, with flavors of strawberry, dark red cherry, boysenberry and root beer infused with noticeable oak highlights. Easygoing, with minimal tannins and silky in texture, but the wine lacks spirit and seems almost grumpy like it is in a dumb phase. Just doesn’t have the charm and character of other Lester Family Pinots from this and other producers.Tasted twice with similar results. Will need to be reassessed in the future. Reviewed April 19, 2017

Winery: Waxwing Wine Cellars
From article: Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir