2005 PINOT NOIR FE CIEGA
Santa Rita Hills
A dear friend who visited
recently and tasted this wine after the 2005 Bien Nacido pinot
noir was not impressed. He loved the Bien Nacido's friendliness,
and thought this wine had less of everything--aroma and flavor.
I was flabbergasted, because for me this is absolutely the best
pinot noir we have ever made. However, wine is intriguing because
it is all about personal perceptions--if you don't like apples,
but love oranges, that's just the way it is. Here are my notes:
Winemaker Rick Longoria does a great job farming this terrific
site and generously allows us to purchase a small portion of his
vineyard's production. Rick and I agree that there is only a moment
in time when the character of the vineyard fully expresses itself.
A couple of days too soon or too late and all is lost. In 2005
a combination of favorable weather and good timing made for my
best Fe Ciega to date. While still a bit young to drink today,
it has great style and minerality. There is a provocative animal
character that lurks around the dark fruit scents of this wine,
setting it apart from other vineyards. It is very subtle and just
fascinating!