Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Integrato Santa Lucia Highlands 2019

Winemakers are constantly experimenting and honing their craft to push the limits of wine to ever greater heights. Many experiments are destined to swirl down the drain, or are blended out as a small portions of larger projects to mask their impact. When owner/winemaker John Benedetti set out to make a single vineyard pinot noir from the La Estancia vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, both of those outcomes were certainly on the table. After one sip, we’re confident you’ll see, as we did, that avoiding those outcomes was the only possible choice.

The wine is delicately colored, with pomegranate and sage aromas emanating from the glass. The flavors are bright and tart, notes of cranberry, Rainier cherries, lavender, and hibiscus agua fresca, with a hint of spicy clove and sweet vanilla.

La Estancia vineyard sits in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, on the east-facing slopes of the Santa Lucia range above the town of Gonzalez. River loam soils and large temperature shifts lend intensity to the wines grown there. The vineyard is planted to a mixture of Dijon clones 777, 667, 115 with some Swan and Pommard, as well. 90% of the fruit is destemmed before a 3-day cold soak leading into a native yeast fermentation finished by selected Burgundy yeasts. The wine received twice daily punch downs during primary fermentation with secondary completed in barrel. The wine spent 10 months in French oak, 10% new. Only 16 barrels (~400 cases) produced.

To recap: Micro-production, single-vineyard, ethereal pinot noir from Santa Lucia Highlands for $20... So, yes, you need some of this!

PAIRING IDEAS: Pinot and salmon is a perennial favorite for me. This Honey Mustard Salmon with Summer Vegetable Salad is a perfect complement.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: Oren Lavie’s smooth voice and harmonic upbeat-melancholy made “Her Morning Elegance” a hit. The video plays like an art student’s dreamscape in stop-motion.