Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir 2019 1.5L

The Spanish term “Las Alturas” means “the heights,” a fitting name for this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA up to 1,200 feet. At this elevation, the sunny but very cool climate creates a wine bearing all the hallmarks of this coastal region: robust, expressive, full-bodied, and balanced by a firm acidity. Nestled between the Santa Lucia Mountains and the western side of Salinas Valley, Las Alturas benefits from early morning fog which rolls in most days from Monterey Bay then burns off within a few hours. Gusty winds funnel in from the bay throughout the afternoon, moderating the overall temperature and contributing to one of the longest growing seasons in California. The high winds also result in smaller berries with very thick skins, giving us more color concentration. Another attractive characteristic of this vineyard is the low-vigor, free-draining sub-soil made up of a calcareous base underneath a layer of sandy loam. This complements our farming techniques to further reduce our yields per vine and augment the fruit’s intensity.

Winter was cold and wet, beginning with a series of cold winter storms in mid-January that finally tapered off in late March. This delayed the onset of bud break and early grapevine growth. The weather turned warm and sunny in April, which caused rapid grapevine growth that lasted into early May. Cold, wet weather returned in mid-May before transitioning into a mild, warm summer. Hot weather in August led to a completed veraison by the  end of the month, and the marine layer allowed the grapes to ripen evenly and retain their natural acidity. We started harvesting the Pinot Noir grapes  in early-September and completed harvest on the third week of September.

"My goal with each of the Belle Glos single-vineyard Pinot Noirs is to express the uniqueness of each vineyard and craft a genuine style of California Pinot Noir that is layered, complex, fruit-forward and rich. Our Las Alturas vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County is well suited to producing a wine in our signature style." - Joseph Wagner, Owner & Winemaker

Tasting Notes: 

Scarlet red in color with an aromatic medley of gooseberry, raspberry, and cranberry with hints of ginger, black pepper, and shaved milk chocolate. Dark fruit on the palate with flavors of wild berries, milk chocolate, toffee, black cherry, and ground  nutmeg. Rich and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish. 

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast

90 Points - Wine Spectator