Vineyard: Escolle

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Windy Oaks Estate: New Pinot Noir Offerings Merit Special Praise (12.28 4/28/2022)
Recent Sips of California Pinot Noir (10.10 5/11/2015)
Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir & Chardonnay (10.37 9/6/2016)
E16 Pinot Noir: A Pleasant Surprise (9.40 4/17/2014)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery
E16 Wine Company

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2019 Windy Oaks Estate Escolle Vineyard Clone 943 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., 50 cases, $49. Sourced from a small block at Escolle Vineyard that is farmed especially for Windy Oaks. The vineyard is located in the cooler, northern part of the Santa Lucia Highlands, near the well-known Garys’ Vineyard. Native yeast fermentation with elevage in 50% new French oak barrels for 23 months. · Light garnet color in the glass. The nose grows on you over time with aromas of darkest cherry, pomegranate and spice with a woody undertone. Delicious flavors of black cherry and purple berry fruits along with cardamom spice, dark chocolate, and a thin cloak of oak in the background. The tannins are sparse and the finish is moderately long. I have never tasted a 943 clone Pinot Noir that was this good and it makes for a very unique tasting wine. I would prefer less oak intrusion at this stage. Score: 93. Reviewed April 24, 2022 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2017 Windy Oaks Estate Eleven:11 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir

13.4% alc., 49 cases, $58. Jim’s son, Spencer, the Windy Oaks Estate assistant winemaker, makes this unique bottling crafted from Dijon clone 943 and Calera clone. Very different from the main estate offerings, this wine is named for the project’s start date. 100% whole cluster with a long, cool fermentation with foot trodding and hand punch downs before a gentle pressing to used French oak barrels where it was aged for 24 months with no racking. After the extended elevage, this Pinot Noir was treated like a Riserva giving it another full year in tank to mature, then further aging in bottle before release, much like is seen in Brunello and Rioja wines. This strategy creates a more mature, slightly oxidative quality that fans of those wines love. · Light garnet color in the glass. The aromas really jump out of the glass including red cherry, cranberry, baking spice, burnt tobacco and pine sap. Lightly extracted with flavors of red cherry and strawberry with a spicy riff. Plenty of Pinot charm in a delicate but satisfying style with gentle tannins, subtle whole cluster input and fruit flavors that build in intensity on the finish. A very distinctive wine. Score: 93. Reviewed April 24, 2022 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2014 E16 Upper Bench Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.96, TA 0.48, 395 cases, $42. Sourced from Escolle Vineyard planted in 2008 to eleven Pinot Noir clones on five rootstocks. Pommard clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Exceptional aromatic presence with scents of cherry, dark strawberry, rose petal, pipe smoke and sweet oak. Ripe flavors of strawberry, black cherry and black raspberry are accented by tobacco oak and framed by suave tannins. Although the acidity is low, the wine does not come across as flabby. The finish is generous and shows some persistence. Score: 91. Reviewed September 7, 2016 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 E16 Upper Bench Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.58, 370 cases, $38. Sourced from Escolle Vineyard, Pommard clone. Aged 11 months in 100% French oak barrels, 30% new. Unfiltered. · Moderately light cherry red color in the glass. Lovely scent of mashed red cherries, strawberries and sandalwood. Light to mid weight flavors of strawberries, cherries and spice. Very elegant and refined, with fine-grain tannins tucked in and juicy acidity providing vibrancy. Not as brawny as many Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noirs, with more personality. This wine reminds me of wines from Rosella’s Vineyard. Score: 93. Reviewed May 14, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 E16 Santa Lucia Highlands “Upper Bench” Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 270 cases, $35. Sourced from the upper reaches of Escole Vineyard. Single block of Pommard 4 clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels. · Medium reddish purple color in the glass. The nose really attracts attention with vivid aromas of fresh cherries, strawberries, and sandalwood. Soft, even pillowy on the palate with middleweight flavors of red cherries and red strawberries, accented with a hint of cola and oak. A very refined, elegant interpretation of Santa Lucia Highlands fruit with a sleek finish. Score: 92. Reviewed April 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »