SOLD OUT! Finding really good, 100% varietal, value priced Pinot Noir from California can be a daunting task.
If you want to experience the true wonders and stylings of the grape at a great price, the 2012 Formation Pinot Noir is a must try. It’s a new wine, but already it’s garnered a 92 point score and a gold medal at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.
2012 Formation Pinot Noir Monterey County
Crushes Meiomi and costs a lot less!
SOLD OUT
Monterey County and the surrounding area have long enjoyed a reputation for fine Pinot Noir. Some of the pioneering producers of the region (Chalone and Calera come to mind) realized that the cooler temperatures of northern Monterey County (it rarely gets above 75 degrees here) were ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is this cooler region that produces the Formation Pinot Noir.
The coolness of the region allows for a long growing season and the grapes ripen slowly and gently, developing intricate, sensual aromas and flavors. Also ideal are the soils of the region, a combination of loam, sand, granite and limestone. These well drained, mineral rich soils stress the vines and contribute intense and complex aromas and flavors.
The 2012 Formation Pinot Noir is one of the best California Pinot values we’ve ever stocked and it’s a fine example of what Monterey’s cool climate and diverse soils can do for the grape. The wine is certifiably 100% Pinot Noir from a variety of Formation Estate vineyard sites scattered throughout Northern Monterey County.
All of the Formation Estate vineyards are sustainably farmed, and all grapes are harvested and sorted by hand. From there, the grapes are gently pressed and the juice is gravity fed (no heavy pushing or pressing) and cold soaked to extract more flavors. The wine is then fermented in open-top fermenters and aged for 12 months in new and used French oak.
The finished product is true Pinot Noir with a beautiful ruby/garnet, translucent color and a sensual nose of pure cherry, black cherry, forest floor, and earthy, spicy complexity. Silky smooth, with nice balancing acidity and soft tannins, this light to medium bodied, beautifully textured wine is a true find.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville