2017 Peterson Vineyard Pinot Noir

Our 2017 Peterson Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from what was looking like a classic Santa Lucia Highlands vintage.  Everything was in line for our first "normal" year since 2012:  plenty of rain in the winter, decent weather in May for an above average crop, a cool, foggy summer for slow ripening, it all looked perfect.  Then we got hit with two major heat waves, a week apart, at the end of August and early September.  The second event saw record-breaking temperatures at the vineyard of 111 degrees.  This caused some shriveling of unprotected clusters on the vine, while the clusters shaded by leaves weren't ready for harvest yet.  We finally started picking the Pinot at Peterson a week after the heat died down, and finished at the end of September. 

 

The '17 Peterson Pinot shows off the wonderful aromas this vineyard offers each year.  It's the most earthy expression of Pinot Noir in the entire Santa Lucia Highlands appellation.  Peterson typically drinks well at a young age, and 2017 is no exception.  The palate is filled with bright fruit flavors and Pinot spice.  This will be at its best from mid 2019 through 2024.

Wine Profile

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