Castle Rock Pinot Noir Mendocino County 2009

From a producer with a great many appellations in each vintage, their least expensive may actually be their best; the California Cuvée for 2008 has a nice core of ripe red fruit and medium (almost full) body; engaging spicy notes echo on the smooth and velvety finish.

This elegant and medium-bodied wine has delicate aromas of violet and rose petals, complex flavors and long silky textures, with layers of strawberry and raspberry leading into a long refined finish. - Winery

A light, jammy Pinot Noir filled with bright fruit and subtle spicy layers that create a smooth and textured wine. The tannins are light on the palate and the style is more Burgundian than typical California Pinot, with herbal notes (black tea and earth) and black cherry and plum flavors. The finish is especially long for a light-bodied Pinot, allowing a wider variety of potential pairings such as salmon, lamb and even pork.

Bright fruit flavors, a silken texture, and fine tannins make the Castle Rock a pristine example of California Pinot Noir. With its classic nuances of cola and toast, this is a wine meant to compete with the finest offerings of Pinot Noir at this price point. Great with herb-roasted chicken.

This elegant well-balanced wine offers aromas of red fruit and spice. On the palate, there are flavors of plum and cherry with oak nuances, and the finish is long and harmonious. - Winery

Winery Tasting Notes - Our Castle Rock Pinot Noir is produced from grapes grown in Monterey County along the Central Coast of California, where the climate and soil quality provide excellent growing conditions for this Burgundian varietal. Here, the cooling air from Monterey Bay helps to produce a longer growing season for grapes, with extra grape-time on the vines leading to a characteristic depth of flavor in the wine. Our Pinot Noir is elegant and medium-bodied, offering aromas of cherry, tea and herbal spice. On the palate, the wine gives flavors of black cherry, plum and spice. It is smooth with a silky texture and mild tannins. This versatile food wine pairs well with lamb, chicken, veal, salmon and light pasta dishes.