2004 Saintsbury Stanly Ranch Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 4,560 cases, $45. Stanly Ranch Vineyard was originally owned in the 1950s by Louis Martini and the Wente family. It was here that the historic clonal trials of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were carried out that became the source of Martini and Wente clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are widely planted in California today. In 2001, the vineyard underwent a modernization, with planting of modern clones, tighter spacing, and vertical trellising. Saintsbury has been sourcing grapes from Stanly Ranch since 1984 and Stanly Ranch grapes have formed the foundation of the Carneros and Reserve bottlings in the past. Saintsbury gets to “cherry-pick” the best vines. This Pinot contains 667 clone only. · A very nicely crafted Pinot with intriguing aromas of dark cherries, browned toast, and anise duplicated in the flavors. The wine finishes cleanly with lively acidity and lingering toasty oak aromas. Reviewed February 26, 2007

Winery: Saintsbury
From article: The New Saintsbury