Big Basin Lester Family Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

The aromatics of our Lester Vineyard Pinot Noir are striking. Lifted and perfumed, a Burgundy glass is highly recommended to capture the crushed flowers, Asian spice and savory notes which seem almost endless.

The palate is treated to red fruits, earthiness, hints of fennel and pronounced spice unique to the Santa Cruz Mountains. The overall balance and concentration will allow this wine to age gracefully for many, many years. While delicious now, a cellar investment in this offering will pay big dividends down the road.

If there is a vintage to fill your cellar with Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir, 2013 is it. Mother Nature could not have provided more ideal conditions: early bud break, a mild spring and summer, followed by a slightly warm, low humidity September/October. The second year of drought kept berry size small, intensifying flavors and forming supple tannins. Minimal intervention and generous use of whole clusters produced wines that are highly expressive with nuance and detail. The winemaking approach with Pinot Noir has been evolving each vintage by increasing use of whole clusters. The near perfect growing conditions of 2013 presented perfectly ripened stems which we included during fermentation to enhance the aromatics, structure and aging potential of the wine. The 2013 Lester Pinot Noir was fermented with 76% whole clusters.