The next stop for The 12 Days of Pinot Noir is one of several to the Santa Cruz Mountains. I’ve been sampling and ultimately drinking more and more wines from this region over the last few years. I’m happy to report that there are quite a number of wineries turning out excellent wine in this area. The common thread that sticks out for me in the better Santa Cruz Mountains selections I have tried is an outstanding purity of fruit.

The first selection I’m looking at from Santa Cruz Mountains during The 12 Days of Pinot Noir is 2006 release from Beauregard Vineyards. While Beauregard Vineyards wasn’t officially launched as a winery until 1999, the family has farmed the area for four generations. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are amongst the varietals they produce in addition to Pinot Noir.

The 2006 Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir is made from fruit sourced at Bald Mountain. This 38 acre parcel is their largest vineyard and has 9 acres planted to Pinot Noir. The suggested retail price for this wine is $45.

Vanilla and dark cherry that’s coated with a slight candied edge fill the nose of this Mountain Pinot Noir. Cranberries and pomegranate are prominent throughout the palate along with layers of raspberry and light flourish of forest floor. Hints of dusty baker’s chocolate and subtle but emerging earth notes lead the lengthy finish along with sour cherry, white pepper, and light cola notes. The tannins are generous and silky, framed by good acidity.

I found this selection from Beauregard Vineyards to be a beautiful expression of mountain grown Pinot Noir. Along the lines of my previous Santa Cruz experiences this wine has a purity of fruit that shines through. This wine is delicious now and will evolve nicely with some additional bottle age. My recommendation would be to lay it down for 2-3 years and drink it in the 5 years after that.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.

So here it is after some anticipation, The 12 Days of Pinot Noir has arrived to welcome in October. Over the next 12 Days quite a few Pinots will be covered and recommended  here. But where to start? Back in July I was out at the Wine Blogger’s Conference and had the opportunity to taste a Chardonnay from an urban San Francisco Winery. That Chardonnay from Foggy Bridge made an impression and when I was rounding up wines to taste for possible inclusion in the 12 Days of Pinot Noir, I checked to see if they made a Pinot, and sure enough they do. So theirs will be the inaugural selection for this 12 Day Pinot Fest.

The 2006 Foggy Bridge Pinot Noir is made from fruit sourced at the well known Bien Nacido vineyard in Santa Maria Valley. This wine is 100% Santa Maria Valley fruit and all Pinot Noir. Oak aging was accomplished over 12 months in French (90%), and American (10%) oak. 426 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.

Wild strawberries and bing cherry fill the nose of this wine along with touches of crème fraiche and vanilla bean. The palate which gently coats your taste buds is loaded with medium dark fruit; cherries dominate. These are joined by subtler mushroom and earth characteristics. Light chicory notes lead a lingering finish that also has cinnamon, chocolate and solid flourishes of sour cherry. Soft, supple tannins and good acidity round out this wine.

This Pinot Noir provides a ton of varietal character which is particularly important to note when there are a lot of examples out there that don’t. This wine is a classic case of a Pinot that will pair well with a wide array of food. Don’t hesitate to drink it on it’s own though as it’s delicious solo too.

If you want to read more about Foggy Bridge head over to my other site Drink Dry Creek where we recently wrote about their 2007 Zinfandel.

Please take a moment to vote for my blog.