November 29, 2005



                   L E T    V I N T R U S T    H E L P    Y O U

                  acquire it


sommselections - pinot noir from the

 

 

santa lucia highlands

 

 

 

  2001

Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

 

$55

  SOMMscore 95

  2004

Loring Wine Company - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

 

$50

  SOMMscore 91

  2003

Miner Family Vineyards - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

 

$50

  SOMMscore 91

  2003

Roar - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

 

$48

  SOMMscore 92

  2002

Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

 

$75

  SOMMscore 93

  2003

Patz & Hall - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

 

$75

  SOMMscore 94

  2003

Pisoni - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

 

$65

  SOMMscore 95

  2004

Loring Wine Company - Pinot Noir 'Rosella's Vineyard'

750ML

 

$50

  SOMMscore 93

 

 

TO ORDER:  
 

  1. REPLY to this email, or

  2. CLICK on "ORDER IT" beside each desired wine, or

  3. CALL us @ 1.877.VINTRUST (846.8787)

 

Gary, Rosella and Pisoni: These three famed vineyard sites stir excitement in the heart of every lover of great Pinot Noir. The wines from these vineyards are produced in microscopic quantities by several different winemakers. Each is unique and easily identifiable as a Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1992, The Santa Lucia Highlands is part of the western mountain range shielding the Salinas Valley from the Pacific Ocean. The region consists of southeastern-facing benches sitting above the morning fog and cooled by coastal winds that sweep in from Monterey Bay. The cooling fog, afternoon winds and good sun exposure lengthen the growing season, allowing the grapes to hang on the vines longer, developing complex flavors while keeping their attractive, crisp acidity.

- Lisa Minucci


WINE DETAILS AND SOMMscores

 

SOMMscores Vintrust has put a new spin on the traditional 100-point rating system. Rather than simply display the final number, as so many publishers do, SOMMscores have been designed to provide transparency to each wine review. Each SOMMscore isolates the five characteristics that often make up a wine's rating and prescribes a number of points for the related descriptor, which add up to total score of 100 - Aroma (15 points), Flavor (15 points), Structure (15 points), Length (15 points) and Balance (40 points). This is the criteria our Sommeliers use when reviewing wine. For a list of our SOMMelier partners, please click here.

 

 

Gary's Vineyard

This site continues to produce some of the finest Pinot Noir in California. This hillside vineyard is located just south of Monterey in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Named after partners Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, this 50-acre parcel was planted in 1995 using budwood from the famed La Tāche vineyard in Burgundy. With its long, cool growing season, its proximity to the Pacific and its maritime breezes, this is an ideal site for Pinot.

 

Appellation:

 

Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California, USA

 

Planted:

 

1997

 

Total Vineyard Acreage :

 

50 acres

 

Varietal/Clone/Rootstock:

 

Pisoni Clone planted to 3309

 

Yield:

 

2 tons per acre

 

Exposure:

 

Southeast

 

Trellising:

 

VSP Bilateral

 

Spacing:

 

6 x 8

 

Soils:

 

Arroyo Seco sandy loam

 

Climate:

 

A marine climate highlighted by strong coastal winds blowing off Monterey bay make for foggy mornings, breezy afternoons and a long, drawn out growing season.

 

 

 

 

2001

Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

$55

 

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

red cherry, purple plum, dusty earth
intense red fruit, spice, smoke
ffine and delicate tannin, bright acid
amazing depth of fruit, spice
powerful yet delicate, Burgundian

14
14
14
14
39

While in college on an athletic scholarship, Joe Davis, the son of a Monterey fishing family, took a job in a wine shop. A good customer brought Joe a gift of a 1978 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Domaine Dujac, and he was hooked. Joe enrolled in UC Davis' graduate program and in 1985, he went to work for Dan Lee of Morgan Winery. While primarily making award-winning Chardonnay, Davis never lost site of that fantastic Burgundy and in 1990, he presented a classic Pinot Noir production plan to Morgan Winery. At that juncture, no one in California was producing Pinot Noir in the style of Domaine Dujac, and Davis was determined that implementing the French artisan, traditional methods of wine making and vineyard management would produce superior wine. Davis also felt that the cool coastal regions of central California were well suited to producing fine Pinot Noir. He was right…

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

95

DRINKABILITY        2005-2018

 

 

 

 

 

2004

Loring Wine Company - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

$50

 

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

black and red cherry, pomegranate
layers of dark cherry, milk chocolate, toast
full-bodied, 1-m acid, robust tannin
persistent and rich, loads of fruit, tannin
extracted, dark, dense, concentrated

14
14
13
14
36

As all great Pinot Noir producers do, Brian Loring fell in love with the wines of Burgundy. He fell hard while selling wine in a shop after college. While working as a software designer, he observed the 1997 harvest with Cottonwood Canyon, then decided to make a couple of barrels of Pinot Noir himself. He never looked back. The Loring Wine Company’s first commercial vintage came only 2 years later; 150 cases of 1999 Pinot Noir made from Norm Beko's "Sharon's Vineyard." His wines remain quite limited in production. This self-taught winemaker is guided by his own palate, his vision of Burgundy, and the belief that it’s all about fine fruit sources. His access to the best vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands assures his continued success. 700 cases produced

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

91

DRINKABILITY        2008-2018

 

 

 

 

 

2003

Miner Family Vineyards - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

$50

 

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

bright red and pruple fruits, spice
concentrated fruit, pepper, mushroom
lush fruit, bright acid
medium-to-full length of red fruits
wonderful depth of fruit

14
14
13
13
37

Tucked into the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation, Miner Family Vineyards in Napa Valley was launched by Dave and Emily Miner in 1998. Prior to starting his own label, Dave was President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, which is owned by his aunt, Mary Miner. The eminently talented winemaker Gary Brookman, formerly of Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Franciscan Winery, crafts Miner’s complex and distinctive wines. The relationships forged with the proprietors of Rosella’s Vineyard and Gary’s Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands allows Miner Family Vineyards to produce Pinot Noirs that are consistently stunning.

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

91

DRINKABILITY        2008-2020

 

 

 

 

 

2003

Roar - Pinot Noir 'Gary's Vineyard'

750ML

$48

 

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

warm red berry, flowers, vanilla
sweet red cherry fruit, toasty oak, floral
med. bodied, med. acid, bright fruit
med. length of fruit, flowers
harmonious, somewhat delicate

14
14
14
13
37

Gary & Rosella Franscioni are a family winery specializing in small lots of Santa Lucia Highland's Pinot Noir. Their roots in the Santa Lucia Highlands are quite deep, both having grown up in California's agricultural heartland. Gary and his family before him have farmed our vineyard property for over 100 years. With a degree from Cal Poly, Gary took over the running of the family farm business, which owned and managed over 200 acres of row crops in the Salinas Valley. Recognizing the region's potential for premium wine grapes, they planted Rosella’s Vineyard in 1996, and co-own and manage Gary’s Vineyard with Gary Pisoni of Pisoni Vineyards. After working with several wineries to develop the pedigree of the vineyards and the region, the Franscioni’s decided in 2001 to make their own wine under the Roar label. The name ROAR comes from the sound of the coastal winds that define the region and the roar of the mountain creeks that bisect the rocky, well-drained soils of the vineyards.

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

92

DRINKABILITY        2005-2012

 

 

Pisoni Vineyard

Gary Pisoni threw reason to the Monterey County wind in 1982, planting five acres of Pinot Noir in the Santa Lucia Mountains without a water source. Nine years later, he challenged conventional wisdom again by placing own-rooted vines into the virgin decomposed-granite soil, rather than grafting them on phylloxera-resistant rootstock. Each of the small blocks within Pisoni Vineyard boast a distinct soil type and microclimate. Perched at 1,300 feet on the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, the mountain estate overlooks the fertile Salinas Valley. Fog curls in from nearby Monterey Bay, contributing to the cool mornings and nights favored by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

 

Appellation:

 

Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California, USA

 

Planted:

 

1988

 

Total Vineyard Acreage :

 

40 acres

 

Varietal/Clone/Rootstock:

 

Pisoni Clone planted to 5C

 

Yield:

 

2.5 tons per acre

 

Exposure:

 

Southeast

 

Trellising:

 

VSP Unilateral

 

Spacing:

 

5 x 10

 

Soils:

 

Decomposed granite/gravelly loam

 

Climate:

 

A marine climate highlighted by strong coastal winds blowing off Monterey bay make for foggy mornings, breezy afternoons and a long, drawn out growing season.

 

 

 

 

2002

Arcadian - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

$75

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

intense purple fruit, cassis, smoke
currant, flowers, nuts, coffee
full-bodied, bright fruit, rich
complex and deeply fruited
big, rich, ripe, dark, savory

14
14
13
14
38

Heady aromas of purple fruits, flowers, smoke and cassis. The full-bodied palate is dense with dark fruits, savory herb notes, coffee, and roasted nuts. A good grip of fine tannins with a medium acid make this wine more rich and unctuous than bright and Burgundian. A hedonistic treat.

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

93

DRINKABILITY        2008-2018

 

 

 

 

 

2003

Patz & Hall - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

$75

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

deep bluebarry, red cherry, spice, smoke
jammy red and blue fruits, black licorice
firm tannins, good grip, med. acid
persistent wash of dark fruit and spice
dense, conecnetrated, unctuous

14
15
14
14
37

Patz & Hall began producing wines in 1988 in order to fulfill a life-long dream of making elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Partners James Hall, Anne Moses, Donald and Heather Patz created their first vintage after years of experience working for other wineries in the Napa Valley. They were inspired by the classic Burgundian model of hands-on control for small vineyard sites and small lot, barrel by barrel winemaking. Now entering their fifteenth year, Patz & Hall has refined their focus to include small production, single vineyard wines, from a variety of appellations including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Monterey.

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

94

DRINKABILITY        2008-2020

 

 

 

 

 

2003

Pisoni - Pinot Noir 'Pisoni Vineyard'

750ML

$65

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

black cherry, blackberry, black pepper
intense black fruit, plum, spice, earth
structured tannins, full fruit, high acid
long, complex, rich
big and bold but quite balanced

15
15
14
14
37

Gary Pisoni is the Burgundian-crazy founder and visionary of Pisoni Vineyards & Winery, overseeing all viticultural and winemaking activities. For over 20 years, this maverick has produced Pinot Noir grapes for premium California vintners, gaining recognition for his uncompromised practices and exceptional fruit. He and his two sons presented the first release of Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir in 1998 and introduced a sister label, Lucia, in 2000. Mark Pisoni completed a B.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, and M.S. in Farm Business Management at Cornell University. He directs the day-to-day activities of both Pisoni Vineyards and Pisoni Farms. Jeff Pisoni earned a B.S. in Enology at California State University, Fresno, and got hands-on experience at premium wineries before becoming the Pisoni Estate and Lucia winemaker in 2002.

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

95

DRINKABILITY        2008-2020

 

 

Rosella's Vineyard

This 50-acre parcel is only a stone's throw from Garys' Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni, this vineyard was planted in 1996 using the "Pisoni" clone from La Tache, as well as Dijon clones. The wines produced from this vineyard site are influenced significantly by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, allowing for a long, cool growing season favored by Pinot Noir. Also, the deep Arroyo Seco sandy loam soils lying beneath the vineyard provide its unique flavor profile.

 

Appellation:

 

Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California, USA

 

Planted:

 

1996

 

Total Vineyard Acreage :

 

50 acres

 

Varietal/Clone/Rootstocl:

 

777 planted to 101-14

 

Yield:

 

2 tons per acre

 

Exposure:

 

Southeast

 

Trellising:

 

VSP Unilateral

 

Spacing:

 

5 x 8

 

Soils:

 

Arroyo Seco sandy loam

 

Climate:

 

A marine climate highlighted by strong coastal winds blowing off Monterey bay make for foggy mornings, breezy afternoons and a long, drawn out growing season.

 

 

 

 

2004

Loring Wine Company - Pinot Noir 'Rossella's Vineyard'

750ML

$50

 

click to order

 

 

 

characteristic

impressions

score

notes

 

 

 

AROMA
FLAVOR
STRUCTURE
LENGTH
BALANCE

strawberry, raspberry, dusty earth, roses
sweet red fruit, flowers, hint of spice
delicate, fine tannin, bright acid
textured, pretty persistent
feminine, elegant, great depth

14
15
13
14
37

Delicate aromas of strawberry, raspberry, dusty earth and a hint of rose petal. The medium to full-bodied palate is loaded with fruit, spice and a lovely floral component. Fine tannins, bright acid and an elegant length makes this a fine and well-bred wine. 750 cases produced

 

 

 

 

SOMMscore

93

DRINKABILITY        2005-2015

 

 

 

 

WHEN VINTRUST ACQUIRES
WINE FOR YOU, WE . . .

 

  • Enter the purchase details in your Vintrust online account so that you can track shipments and recall each purchase.
  • Digitally image and barcode each bottle so that you can better manage your collection and record each bottle’s condition.
  • Inventory and add the wine, its details, ratings and market price into your Vintrust online portfolio.
  • Cellar the wine until you wish to take delivery of it.

 



To learn more about Vintrust, please visit www.vintrust.com

3620 Buchanan Street
San Francisco, CA 94123


tel. 877.VINTRUST (846.8787)
tel. 415.561.8410
fax 415.561.8416
email :
customerservice@vintrust.com