1-CASE PRICE = $38.99 per bottle (12 bottle minimum purchase)
2-CASE PRICE = $37.99 per bottle (12 bottle minimum purchase)
(Discounts apply after adding the correct amount to your basket)
Notes From the Winemaker:
Our Double L Vineyard’s location in the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA is widely regarded as one of the best spots for growing world-class Pinot Noir. Planted on east facing terraces overlooking the Salinas River Valley, the north-south vineyard row orientation provides optimum sun exposure and access to the strong afternoon breezes. The winds moderate the afternoon temperature, thickening the grape skins and concentrating flavors. The vineyard has been Certified Organic since 2002 and remains the only such vineyard in the appellation.
Although 2007 was typically cool and windy, this vintage shows a lot of intensity due to high stress on the vines from a dry winter preceding a cold, wet spring. The outcome was a 40% decrease in crop, further focusing flavor and acidity.
The grapes were hand picked and sorted in the vineyard. They were sorted again at the winery before being destemmed. Whole berry fermentation took place in small open tanks. Three times daily, the wine was manually punched down. After fermentation, the wine is transferred into a combination of new and one and two year-old barrels. We purchase barrels from the most sought after forests in France, made by their finest cooperages.
An exceptional wine from an exceptional vintage, the ‘07 Double L Pinot Noir presents aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, chocolate, spice and leather. Those characters are echoed on the palate, backed by a deft touch of vanillin-oak and structuring tannins. An exquisite match for duck confit, lamb shank, and prime rib...
Ratings / Reviews:
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine -
95 Points:
"Here is a brilliant combination of the deep character possible from
the site together with the balance and proportion that derive both from
the hand of Dan Lee and from the vintage. The result is a wine of
substance, brightness, richness and the kind of layering that is only
found in the most exceptional offerings. To be sure, the wine is full in
body as one would expect of its Santa Lucia Highlands provenance, yet
it is underlying fruit and impeccable balance that seize the day here
and make it into one that will happily age into a polished maturity over
some four to six years or more." (Feb. 2010)
International Wine Review - 92 Points: "This estate wine displays a medium dark ruby hue and aromas of black cherry, earth, and sweet toasted oak. It has a full lush attack with incredible depth of flavor. Dark cherry underlies notes of sweet oak and brown spice. Long, sweet finish." (Nov. 2009)
Wine Enthusiast Magazine - 92 Points:
"A big, thick, heavy Pinot Noir, showing the ripe flavors that a good Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir usually has. Floods the mouth with rasberry and cherry pie filling, currants, red plums, cola and rhubarbs. Nothing shy about it. Good now with lamb chops or a nice steak, and should do interesting things over the next six years. -S.H. (Dec. 2009)
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - 90 Points:
"Saturated ruby. Oak-spiced dark berry and cherry-vanilla aromas are complemented by smoky minerals, potpourri and sandalwood. Lush and creamy in texture but doesn't come off as heavy, offering sweet black raspberry and candied cherry flavors and a late kick of vanillin oak. There's plenty of fruit here and I suspect that the oakiness will fade with another couple of years in the bottle." (Nov/Dec. 2009)
