Sante Arcangeli Pinot Noir Integrato Santa Lucia Highlands 2019

Sante Arcangeli is a small production that has recently done quite well with the folks at Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, named one of Robert Parker’s Top 100 Discoveries in 2018. John Benedetti’s barrel selection of a single vineyard pinot noir from La Estancia in the Santa Lucia Highlands is yet another astounding wine – especially at our stellar price of only $19.95! This is the perfect Cali-pinot to load up on and drink with satisfaction!

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 with a mixture of Dijon clones 777, 667, and 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) were produced.

The wine is delicately colored, with pomegranate and sage aromas emanating from the glass. The flavors are bright and tart, with notes of cranberry, Rainier cherries, lavender, and hibiscus agua fresca, with a hint of spicy clove and sweet vanilla. Micro-production, single-vineyard, ethereal pinot noir from Santa Lucia Highlands for UNDER $20...YES! We all need some of this!