Dec 30, 2022
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Silver Mountain Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Jerold O'Brien |
| Web site | www.silvermtn.com |
| Link to this site |
Jerold O'Brien founded his mountain vineyard and winery in 1979 high in the Santa Cruz Mountains with sweeping views of Monterey Bay. His house and winery were destroyed by the Loma Prieta earthquake, but he rebuilt and is quite successful today. He grows Chardonnay on his estate and sources Pinot Noir (Muns Vineyard, Miller Hill Vineyard - both Santa Cruz Mountains, and Tondre's Grapefield in the Santa Lucia Highlands), Zinfandel, and Bordeaux varieties.
His wines are crafted in consultation with Tony Craig, the winemaker for Sonnet. A tasting room is open daily in Monterey on Cannery Row, and at the winery by appointment.
Articles About Silver Mountain Vineyards
Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards Part III: Central Coast - Santa Lucia Highlands (12.22 9/18/2021)
On a High at Pinot Paradise Weekend (6.21 4/1/2007)
Pinot Paradise (7.16 4/18/2009)
Small Sips of Pinot (6.58 5/7/2008)
Tasting Santa Cruz Pinot Noirz (7.14 3/15/2009)
Reviewed Wines
2016 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $45.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose is infused with aromas of cherry, raspberry and baking spices.
Impressive charm and balance in a middleweight style offering flavors of darker cherry and berries with the
faintest oak in the background. Appealing vibrancy with a deeply aromatic finish.
Score: 93.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2015 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $44.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of dark cherry, cola, earth, terra-cotta
and a hint of oak. Robuist, mid-weight plus wine, with flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate.
toast, and gingerbread. Velvety in texture with minimal tannins and a modest finish.
Score: 92.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2014 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $44.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Enticing aromas of cherry, spiced rum, purple grape and oak.
Impressive cohesiveness with mid-weight flavors of black cherry and cola infused with complimentary oak.
Impressive cherry-packed finish with some length.
Score: 93.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2012 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., $44.
·
Moderate garnet color with slight yellowing of the rim in the glass., Energetic aromas of cherry, spice, leather
and toast. Holding its own, with mid-weight flavors of black cherry, spice, char. root beer and toasty oak.
Slightest alcoholic lip burn on the modest finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed September 19, 2021
ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Miller Hill Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $38.
Aged 16 months in 70% tight-grained Hungarian oak, and 30% seasoned French oak.
·
The scent is a bit funky
showing dry cherry, green herbs, brioche and oak. Picking up intensity in the glass, the flavors tend toward
sour cherry and cranberry with a hint of citrus on the finish. A light-boned wine that needs food
accompaniment.
Reviewed March 15, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Muns Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $38.
Clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. Grapes are hand-picked, de-stemmed, whole berry fermented with cap
management using an air-induced process (PulseAir) that is gentle on the fruit. Aged 17 months in 33% new
tight-grained Hungarian oak.
·
Interesting aromatic profile of wild berries, cherries, herbs and oak spice. An
earthiness and minerality is evident in the cherry flavors and there is a good dose of citric peel on the finish.
Reviewed March 15, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $38.
·
Sensual aromas of strawberries, cherries and spice
cabinet which are echoed in the flavors. A middleweight that is quite elegant for a
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and possesses a round and satiny mouth feel.
Plenty of bracing acidity creates a refreshing finish. I would like to romance this
one all night.
Reviewed March 15, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Silver Mountain Vineyards Muns Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $38. Ed Muns and Mary Lindsay farm this challenging site at 2,600
feet characterized by crumbling slate soil from a former sea bottom.
·
Complex aromatics
featuring strawberry, raspberry, fresh hay, rhubarb, iodine and a touch of funk. Soft,
light and gentle with a good acidic tang. Nothing really stands out on the palate, and
there is a lack of punch, but the wine drinks fine.
Reviewed May 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2004 Silver Mountain Tondre’s Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Similar to the Sonnet version,
but with a lingering cherry and spice kiss at the end.
Reviewed April 1, 2007
ARTICLE »
2016 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $45. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. The nose is infused with aromas of cherry, raspberry and baking spices. Impressive charm and balance in a middleweight style offering flavors of darker cherry and berries with the faintest oak in the background. Appealing vibrancy with a deeply aromatic finish. Score: 93. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2015 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., $44. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of dark cherry, cola, earth, terra-cotta and a hint of oak. Robuist, mid-weight plus wine, with flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, dark chocolate. toast, and gingerbread. Velvety in texture with minimal tannins and a modest finish. Score: 92. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2014 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $44. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Enticing aromas of cherry, spiced rum, purple grape and oak. Impressive cohesiveness with mid-weight flavors of black cherry and cola infused with complimentary oak. Impressive cherry-packed finish with some length. Score: 93. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2012 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., $44. · Moderate garnet color with slight yellowing of the rim in the glass., Energetic aromas of cherry, spice, leather and toast. Holding its own, with mid-weight flavors of black cherry, spice, char. root beer and toasty oak. Slightest alcoholic lip burn on the modest finish. Score: 90. Reviewed September 19, 2021 ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Miller Hill Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $38. Aged 16 months in 70% tight-grained Hungarian oak, and 30% seasoned French oak. · The scent is a bit funky showing dry cherry, green herbs, brioche and oak. Picking up intensity in the glass, the flavors tend toward sour cherry and cranberry with a hint of citrus on the finish. A light-boned wine that needs food accompaniment. Reviewed March 15, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Muns Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $38. Clones 114, 115, 667 and 777. Grapes are hand-picked, de-stemmed, whole berry fermented with cap management using an air-induced process (PulseAir) that is gentle on the fruit. Aged 17 months in 33% new tight-grained Hungarian oak. · Interesting aromatic profile of wild berries, cherries, herbs and oak spice. An earthiness and minerality is evident in the cherry flavors and there is a good dose of citric peel on the finish. Reviewed March 15, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 Silver Mountain Vineyards Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $38. · Sensual aromas of strawberries, cherries and spice cabinet which are echoed in the flavors. A middleweight that is quite elegant for a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and possesses a round and satiny mouth feel. Plenty of bracing acidity creates a refreshing finish. I would like to romance this one all night. Reviewed March 15, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Silver Mountain Vineyards Muns Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $38. Ed Muns and Mary Lindsay farm this challenging site at 2,600 feet characterized by crumbling slate soil from a former sea bottom. · Complex aromatics featuring strawberry, raspberry, fresh hay, rhubarb, iodine and a touch of funk. Soft, light and gentle with a good acidic tang. Nothing really stands out on the palate, and there is a lack of punch, but the wine drinks fine. Reviewed May 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2004 Silver Mountain Tondre’s Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Similar to the Sonnet version, but with a lingering cherry and spice kiss at the end. Reviewed April 1, 2007 ARTICLE »