Dec 30, 2022
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Seal Beach Winery
| Owner(s) | Michael Dawson |
| Web site | www.sealbeachwinery.com |
| Link to this site |
Winemaker Michael Dawson is a leading radiologist who also is an alumnus of the enology and viticulture program at University of California at Davis. Grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Central Coast.
Multiple varietals are produced, including Pinot Noir.
Michael also has two labels specifically for low production wines: Natalie Grace and Taylor Noelle.
The winery and tasting room is in Los Alamitos, California, east of Long Beach (open Wednesday-Sunday).
Articles About Seal Beach Winery
Reviewed Wines
2014 Seal Beach Winery Kessler-Haak Vineyard Clone 2A Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc..
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of black berries, underbrush, and rose petal. Sleek
in the mouth with flavors of black raspberry and blackberry along with a subtle green herbal thread. Nicely
integrated tannins, with some finishing power.
Score: 90.
Reviewed September 24, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Kessler-Haak Vineyard Clone 667 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc..
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry, fresh mulch and bark. The mid weight
essence of black cherry and blackberry fruit is clothed in oak-driven spice and tobacco that tends to integrate
over time in the glass.. The mouthfeel is lush and sleek, the tannins are well integrated and the finish offers
good generosity.
Score: 91.
Reviewed September 24, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 115 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.7% alc..
·
Light ruby red
color in the glass. Comforting aromas of strawberry, red cherry and potpourri. Lighter in weight and rather
elegantly styled, with flavors of cherry and baking spices. Very modest tannins and a silky mouthfeel make for
easy drinking. I like this wine for its charming delicacy.
Score: 90.
Reviewed September 24, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 667 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc..
·
Moderately
light garnet color in the glass. The aromas are slow to arrive over time in the glass, eventually offering cherry,
strawberry and pipe smoke. The palate is more satisfying, with a pleasing combination of black cherry, black
raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors. Velvety in texture, with modest tannins and a modest finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed September 24, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Reserve Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.46, TA 0.64, 200
cases, $35. Sourced from Kessler-Haak and Rio Vista vineyards. Clones 667, 115 and 2A. Harvest
Brix 28.0º. Aged 26 months in French oak barrels, 30% new.
·
Moderately light cherry red color with a
slight orange caste. The nose is quite primal and savory, with aromas of mushroom, undergrowth,
pennyroyal and shy cherry fruit. Light to mid weight in style, with inviting flavors of cherry, baking
spices, cola and sarsaparilla. Silky tannins and graceful in texture, with reserve quality length and
intensity on the finish. This wine is not overblown like many reserve designated wines.
Score: 90.
Reviewed March 29, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Taylor Noelle Pence Ranch Vineyard Clone 459 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $35.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. The nose is rather exotic, offering aromas of
unusual spice and flower blossom along with aromas of cherry and underbrush. Light in weight
and elegantly composed, with flavors of cherry and red raspberry framed by gentle tannins and
subtle oak. Nicely balanced, but rather austere.
Score: 89.
Reviewed September 24, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Seal Beach Winery ‘Old Vine’ Wolff Vineyard Edna Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., $21.
Many vines are more than 75 years old. Native yeast fermentation in neutral French oak barrels,
100% malolactic fermentation. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels, 40% new medium + toast.
·
Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose has a bit of leesy aroma along with lemon creme
and chalk. Crisp and refreshing with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, offering a variety of citrus fruit
flavors along with spiced apple and subtle oak notes. Very giving, even over time in the glass. A
terrific wine that belies the price.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 29, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Seal Beach Winery Taylor Noelle Clone 459 Pence Ranch Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
14.5%
alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.61, 143 cases, $32. Harvest Brix 26.5º.
Native yeast fermentation. Aged 20 months in French oak
barrels, 50% new and 50% 3-years-old.
·
Light cherry red color
with an orange caste. Slight reduction upon opening,
progressing to appealing aromas of cherry, sandalwood, spice
and nutty oak. Discreetly concentrated cherry and cranberry fruit flavors
in a bright and rather delicate style with hints of citrus, white chocolate,
sarsaparilla and tobacco that come and go. There is a good natural acid
spine with minimal tannins making for refreshing drinking. Oak definitely
plays a role but is mellow and not drying. Interestingly, this wine has
somewhat the patina and flavor of an older wine. Better when tasted the
following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with more harmony and exuberance.
Score: 90.
Reviewed March 29, 2017
ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Kessler-Haak Vineyard Clone 2A Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc.. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of black berries, underbrush, and rose petal. Sleek in the mouth with flavors of black raspberry and blackberry along with a subtle green herbal thread. Nicely integrated tannins, with some finishing power. Score: 90. Reviewed September 24, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Kessler-Haak Vineyard Clone 667 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.3% alc.. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry, fresh mulch and bark. The mid weight essence of black cherry and blackberry fruit is clothed in oak-driven spice and tobacco that tends to integrate over time in the glass.. The mouthfeel is lush and sleek, the tannins are well integrated and the finish offers good generosity. Score: 91. Reviewed September 24, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 115 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
13.7% alc.. · Light ruby red color in the glass. Comforting aromas of strawberry, red cherry and potpourri. Lighter in weight and rather elegantly styled, with flavors of cherry and baking spices. Very modest tannins and a silky mouthfeel make for easy drinking. I like this wine for its charming delicacy. Score: 90. Reviewed September 24, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Rio Vista Vineyard Clone 667 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc.. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. The aromas are slow to arrive over time in the glass, eventually offering cherry, strawberry and pipe smoke. The palate is more satisfying, with a pleasing combination of black cherry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit flavors. Velvety in texture, with modest tannins and a modest finish. Score: 89. Reviewed September 24, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Reserve Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.46, TA 0.64, 200 cases, $35. Sourced from Kessler-Haak and Rio Vista vineyards. Clones 667, 115 and 2A. Harvest Brix 28.0º. Aged 26 months in French oak barrels, 30% new. · Moderately light cherry red color with a slight orange caste. The nose is quite primal and savory, with aromas of mushroom, undergrowth, pennyroyal and shy cherry fruit. Light to mid weight in style, with inviting flavors of cherry, baking spices, cola and sarsaparilla. Silky tannins and graceful in texture, with reserve quality length and intensity on the finish. This wine is not overblown like many reserve designated wines. Score: 90. Reviewed March 29, 2017 ARTICLE »
2014 Seal Beach Winery Taylor Noelle Pence Ranch Vineyard Clone 459 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., $35. · Light garnet color in the glass. The nose is rather exotic, offering aromas of unusual spice and flower blossom along with aromas of cherry and underbrush. Light in weight and elegantly composed, with flavors of cherry and red raspberry framed by gentle tannins and subtle oak. Nicely balanced, but rather austere. Score: 89. Reviewed September 24, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Seal Beach Winery ‘Old Vine’ Wolff Vineyard Edna Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., $21. Many vines are more than 75 years old. Native yeast fermentation in neutral French oak barrels, 100% malolactic fermentation. Aged 21 months in French oak barrels, 40% new medium + toast. · Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. The nose has a bit of leesy aroma along with lemon creme and chalk. Crisp and refreshing with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, offering a variety of citrus fruit flavors along with spiced apple and subtle oak notes. Very giving, even over time in the glass. A terrific wine that belies the price. Score: 92. Reviewed March 29, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Seal Beach Winery Taylor Noelle Clone 459 Pence Ranch Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.61, 143 cases, $32. Harvest Brix 26.5º. Native yeast fermentation. Aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 50% new and 50% 3-years-old. · Light cherry red color with an orange caste. Slight reduction upon opening, progressing to appealing aromas of cherry, sandalwood, spice and nutty oak. Discreetly concentrated cherry and cranberry fruit flavors in a bright and rather delicate style with hints of citrus, white chocolate, sarsaparilla and tobacco that come and go. There is a good natural acid spine with minimal tannins making for refreshing drinking. Oak definitely plays a role but is mellow and not drying. Interestingly, this wine has somewhat the patina and flavor of an older wine. Better when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with more harmony and exuberance. Score: 90. Reviewed March 29, 2017 ARTICLE »