We’ve been showcasing the wines of Bernardus Winery since 2007! In that time, we’ve featured a wide range of their wines, but our Operatives are especially fond of their Pinots. Today’s 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a doozy of a steal of a delicious treat of a wine! Grab some while you can. Final Call!

This wine has a slightly dense core, to the point of being opaque, with a crimson hue throughout. This Pinot has an interesting nose of mocha and baking spice with fruit aromas of plum, black cherry, and blood orange. Coming to the fore on the palate is the spice profile, with cherry, vanilla, pomegranate, and cola playing supporting roles. The wine’s strength is its acidity, which drives the fruit and an inconspicuous finish lingers mostly at the back of the palate. This wine would be most welcome at a dinner serving a meaty pasta dish such as bolognese with mattagliata noodles.

The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (American Viticultural Area) is located in Monterey County, California. It is part of the broader Monterey AVA which is one of California’s finest. This important sub-AVA is located in the Santa Lucia Mountains above the Salinas Valley, which is one of California’s premier agricultural areas.

Over 2,300 acres (931 ha) of vineyards are planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, with vineyards that rest at elevations as high as 1,200 feet above sea level. About half of the grapes planted here are Pinot Noir. The region enjoys cool morning fog and breezes from Monterey Bay followed by warm afternoons, thanks to direct southern exposures to the sun. Pinot Noir from this region is prized for the concentration and flavors achieved here.