VOLUME 12, ISSUE 34
December 30, 2022
ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE:
A Commonplace Bucket of Pinot Noir: Quotes, Ephemera, and Thoughts The Prince Retires (this time for good)

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Vineyard: Cargasacchi

OwnerPeter Cargassachi
AppellationSta. Rita Hills
VarietiesPinot Noir

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2013 Loring Wine Company Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.64, 200 cases, $50, screwcap. Released February 2015. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. A darker fruited wine with admirable finesse. Aromas of earthy flora, black raspberry, spice and oak lead to mid weight flavors of black cherry and blackberry with an herbal vein in the background. Silky in the mouth with balanced tannins and some finishing goodness. A bit shallow and atypical for Cargasacchi Vineyard, but still quite satisfying. Score: 90. Reviewed March 16, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Siduri Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.32, TA 0.78, 201 cases, $54. I found this to be a curious wine with a noticeable departure from Cargasacchi wines I have sampled over the years. Adam Lee told me he used 15% whole cluster, but for some reason the stems really stood out in this wine. It is the highest acid Pinot Noir for Siduri in 2013 and the reason for using stems to bring down the strength of the acid. Many wine writers and consumers have liked it, while others have not. Although I am generally a fan of whole cluster wines, I am in the not group. You can decide for yourself. · Moderate light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of raspberry, strawberry, smoke and woody stem lead to a light to mid weight core of red and black raspberry and blueberry fruits with a floral, spicy undertone. The fruit lacks intensity, but does show persistence on the soprano, sour cherry finish. Score: 88. Reviewed December 10, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2013 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

15.5% alc., 43 cases, $58. Bottled April 2015. Peter Cargasacchi farms this 16-acre vineyard located at the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Clone 115. Aged 16 months in 100% French oak barrels, 50% new. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Plenty of bramble, earth and dried leaf complimenting the dark fruits and oak spice on the nose. Fullbodied attack of blackberry and black currant flavors that enter stronger than they finish. The wine has a woodsy, mushroom, rustic undertone, soft fine-grain tannins, integrated oak, and a fruit presence that builds over time in the glass. The high alcohol lends a velvety texture, but leaves some heat behind on the finish. Score: 89. Reviewed September 18, 2015 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Siduri Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 1,834 cases, $32. Released April 2014. A blend of fruit from John Sebastiano, Clos Pepe and Cargasacchi vineyards. · Moderately dark reddish purple hue in the glass. Oak-kissed blackberry, cassis and vanilla aromas. Vivid and juicy on the palate, with a packed and stacked complement of sweet black cherry and blackberry fruits underlain with a good cut of acidity and backed by modest tannins. Very approachable now. Score: 90. Reviewed April 19, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Loring Wine Company Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.7% alc., $50, screwcap. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Alluring perfume of fresh blackberry tart, currants and earthy flora. A killer on the palate with massive concentration of deep purple and black berry fruits (but not jammy), with a subtle underlying earthy, animale character. The tannins are reigned in and balanced, and the striking finish grabs hold and won’t let go. An unabashed, unapologetic, hedonistic wine of uncommon flamboyance. The expression of earthiness in this vineyard sets it apart. A great vintage for Cargassachi Vineyard. Score: 94. Reviewed December 18, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Siduri Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.69% alc., pH 3.53, TA 0.68, 211 cases, $52. 100% clone 115. Vineyard picked in two sections giving a mix of flavor profiles. Unfined and unfiltered. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is quite typical of this vineyard with aromas of black berry and stone fruits, black currant, mesquite, iron and earth. Plush, soft, rich and inviting on the palate, this wine offers a mouthful of earth-kissed purple and black fruits perfectly matched to ripe tannins. The intense, grandiose, and aromatic finish is full of juicy fruit pleasure. Wines from this vineyard can be somewhat animale in character and brooding, but this wine sparkles with freshness and vibrancy as well as offering inviting finesse with power. The best Cargassachi Vineyard Pinot Noir I have ever tasted. Scary to think this will get better with more time in bottle. Score: 94. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2012 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., 40 cases, $56. Clone 115 from a 16-acre vineyard. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak. · Moderate reddish purple hue in the glass. The aromas pick up interest over time in the glass, revealing blackberry, Hoison sauce and subtle tobacco notes. The sleek texture is dreamy in this wine but the black fruit core is rather drab, linear and closed with a beefy, animale, unami character that can be typical of this vineyard. Should benefit from more time in the cellar. Score: 89. Reviewed August 15, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Siduri Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 1,014 cases, $32. A blend of fruit from Cargassachi, Clos Pepe and Sebastiano Vineyards. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Appealing aromas of black raspberries, forest floor, and tobacco oak. Concentrated flavors of fresh black cherries, dark berries, spice, Hoison sauce and complimentary oak. A solid wine with redeeming balance that will have fans. Good (+). Reviewed March 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Siduri Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 195 cases, $50. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Copious black stone fruits and black berries on the nose with hints of jam on toast, charcoal and oak. Medium-weight core of dark Pinot fruits which are very expressive and attention-getting. Savory and earthy in nature with a subtle smoky, tarry note in the background. Great potential here with further cellaring. Good (+). Reviewed February 22, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 100 cases, $54, screw cap. From a 16-acre vineyard located at the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Clone 115. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of spicy red berries and confected plum. Earth-kissed dark red berries and black plum flavors with underlying oak accents, offering a smooth mouth feel and finishing with good aromatic intensity, albeit a touch hot. Good (+). Reviewed July 23, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., $48, screw cap. Dijon 115 clone. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Medium red-purple color in the glass. The nose is primarily savory with aromas of humus, underbrush, oak spice and flowers. Rustic and earthy, with a mediumbodied core of dark raspberry and plum fruit that lingers on the relatively long finish which displays slightly cooked fruit and a floral tone. Still sporting notable ripe tannins that need time to fully integrate. Good (+). Reviewed November 29, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Pali Wine Co. Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., 48 cases, $48, screw cap. Clone 115. Aged 15 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of humus, underbrush, oak, and cut flowers with a hint of alcohol peaking out. Darker fruits are featured with a rustic, earthy bent. Moderately aggressive tannins with some very pretty black raspberry and black plum fruit. A savory wine that carries a floral note to the finish. Good (+). Reviewed November 2, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Siduri Wines Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., 146 cases, $49. · A young wine with shy aromas of dark fruits, smoke, and oak spice. Earthy and brooding, deep and dark, with rich flavors of plums and blackberries, touched by savory herbs, black tea and chicory. Plenty of tannin to shed. The creamy mouth feel is very sexy. Hard to get your arms around this one now, but this is an incredible effort that will repay a few years in the cellar. Reviewed April 9, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2008 Ken Brown Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.7% alc., pH 3.61, 137 cases, $50. From the 16-acre Cargassachi Vineyard planted in 1998 to clone 115. The vineyard is at the extreme west end of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, making it one of the coolest vineyards in California. The Botella Series soils have a high calcareous content, allowing excellent drainage while limited yields. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 10 months in 43% new French oak barrels. · Deep, dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Packed with richly flavored dark Pinot fruits complimented by oak-contributed mocha notes, robed in supple tannins. Seductively smooth and velvety on the palate. The nose is still primal and the wine will become more nuanced with more age. This Pinot had several consumer fans at WOPN. Very good. Reviewed March 12, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Pali Wine Co. Cargasacchi Jalama Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 100 cases, $50, released November 2008. From a 16-acre vineyard planted in 1999 to clone 115 and farmed by owner Peter Cargasacchi. · Nuanced nose sporting scents of berry compote, oak spice, roasted nuts, vitamins and a hint of alcohol. Concentrated dark berry flavors with an underbelly of forest floor, minerals, oak, pepper and citrus. Smooth and silky with a good cut of acid on the finish. Quite tasty. Reviewed July 9, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2006 Cargasacchi Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Barrel Sample Pinot Noir

Some cotton candy in the nose. Primarily red cherries and berries in the flavors with noticeable oak in the finish (should integrate over time). Reviewed July 23, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Hitching Post Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

220 cases, $42. · A little barnyard livens up the aromatics leading to plenty of candied Pinot fruits, especially frambiose. Elegant in style and rather simple in focus, it is perfectly fine. Reviewed July 23, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Loring Wine Company Cargasacchi Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., 400 cases, $45. · The complex nose features wet leaf, mushroom, tea and toast. There is plenty of stuffing but the wine comes off as quite demure and feminine. The mid palate erupts with red fruit, spice (cardamom) and tea notes leading to a finish of oak-tinged cherries and coating tannins. Still a little closed but with great potential. Reviewed May 7, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Brewer-Clifton Cargassachi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

15.5% alc., 576 cases, $56. From a two acre section of clone 115 planted in clay loam soil replete with calcareous deposits and diatomaceous earth. · Lighter in color than the other 2005 bottlings. Reticent but enticing redder fruits complimented by spice, new leather, funk and dried herbs on the nose. The demurely spiced and savory herb-toned red fruits are losing the tug-of-war with drying tannins that overwhelm. The aromas trump the flavors now and this may or may not blossom in the future as the tannins soften. Tasted twice. Reviewed October 1, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Brewer-Clifton Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

15.1% alc., 168 cases. · Shy cherry, forest floor perfume with mineral accents. Black currents and blackberries are featured but although there is prodigious fruit, there is very little taste impact. Noticeable fine tannins carry the dry finish which is also a touch astringent. Reviewed October 1, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

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