2004 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes

The finished wine has floral scents and flavors of black cherry, plum and strawberry jam. Hints of black pepper, tamarind and vanilla resonate in a smooth, soft and savory finish.

Vineyards

The appellation's lengthy growing season makes Santa Barbara County a perfect place to grow balanced and concentrated pinot noir grapes. The coastal climate is key--it is just warm enough that the fruit fully ripens; yet not too hot that vegetal undertones appear. The welldraining sandstone and limestone soils consistently produce small berries that are richly concentrated with colors and flavors.

Winemaking

The berries were cold-soaked upon arrival at the winery, then fermented in open-top fermenters for about seven days. In order to preserve the ripe, powerful fruit in the wine, he aged it in French oak barrels for about six months, with only 20 percent of them new.

Winemaker

Ron Schrieve

Technical Details

Alcohol: 14.2%
pH: 3.63
Total Acidity: 0.69 g/100ml
Harvest Date: August to October 2004

 

Ratings & Reviews

Wine Spectator (December 15, 2005)
"Appealing for its direct, user-friendly, up-front fruitiness, with ripe plum, blackberry and cherry notes that are rich and fleshy. Drink now." - Jim Laube

 

Wine News (Oct/Nov 2005)
"Intense aromas of cherry pie, vanilla, lavender and brown sugar. Juicy flavors of raspberry and wild cherry. Silky tannins and hints of allspice in the lingering finish."

 

Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine (Reds, Whites and Greens: Player/Vintners, March 2007)
"Cherry-berry aromas and some sweet berry fruit. Not complex, but pleasant for the price." - Ray Isle & Rex Pickett

 

News Tribune (JJanuary 3, 2007)
"This wine has nice structure, and it is not overdone in the least. Lively acidity gives lift to the black cherry fruit and strawberry jelly flavors. Delightful." - Randy Buckner

 

Cooking Pleasures Magazine (Harvest Specials, October/November 2006)
"A lighter red with ripe cherry flavors and soft tannins is ideal with the Mahogany Cornish Hen Halves - choose the 2004 Greg Norman California Estates Pinot Noir." - Kate Heyhoe

 

Wall Street Journal (Intersection of Hollywood and Vines, June 16, 2006)
"Best Wine by a Golfer. Outstanding Value. Very Good/Delicious. Rich and earthy, bursting with raspberry fruit, with hints of chocolate and real Pinot funk. The Zinfandel, at the same price, is also very good and a terrific buy." - Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher

 

Santé (June 2006)
"Recommended. Aromas of black cherry and plum with a hint of vanilla on the palate; short, pleasant finish."

 

Family Circle (Come for Dinner, April 2006)
"The tomato-mushroom sauce goes equally well with red or white. Consider this pick: 2004 Greg Norman California Estates Pinot Noir, smooth and sophisticated." - Peggy Katalinich

 

Oakland Tribune (April 5, 2006)
"A good value. This newest effort from the Greg Norman name is a pleasant, clean, cherryish wine with easy-to-drink fruit and reminds of nothing so much as the old Gamay Beaujolais wines of years past. It is worth a try when a light red is on the menu. " - Charles Olken

 

Quarterly Review of Wines (Spring 2006)
"A 4-Star California Pinot Noir. An intense black fruit nose gives way to taut, penetrating black cherry, toasted nut and mocha flavors."

 

Restaurant Wine (Issue #109)
"Rated 4 1/2 Stars. Fleshy, full-bodied, and ripely flavored (cherry, blackberry, plum); an impressive Pinot Noir at the price. It has a good depth and balance, light oak character, and a long finish." - Ronn Wiegand

 

Miami Herald (March 2, 2006)
"Recommended. Tart cherries, leather and chocolate, smooth." - Fred Tasker

 

Carroll County Times (February 8, 2006)
"Good Value. Deep black cherry flavors and a nice hint of mature oak. Nice finish." - Tom Marquardt & Patrick Darr

 

Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine (February 2006)
"A pleasant, clean, cherryish wine with easy-to-drink fruit and reminds of nothing so much as the old Gamay Beaujolais wines of years past. It is worth a try when a light red is on the menu."

 

Midwest Wine Connection (February 2006)
"Very Good. Truly Pinot, and truly Santa Barbara. Ripe cherry flavors combine nicely with hints of oak and vanilla."

 

Colorado Wine News (Jan-Mar 2006)
"Has aromas of barnyard over cherry which reverse as flavors plus light tannin and finish at the back of the palate with the additions of white pepper and oak. Simple quaffer." - Harold Baer, Jr.)