Windy Oaks Terra Narro Estate Pinot Noir 2019
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The 2019 vintage with its cool growing season and small yields provided for an amazing combination of freshness and depth Richly flavored and full of energy showing bright cherry, plum and strawberry fruits, a light spiciness, a pretty floral dimension and a touch of toasty French oak This wine, with its silken texture and long finish, will impress even the most sophisticated of palates, which is not surprising considering the prestigious vineyards used to make the Terra Narro.
Other Vintages
2016-
Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred
Wong
Windy Oaks was founded in 1996 by Jim and Judy Schultze, when they returned to California after living overseas for 7 years in Australia and Europe. On a windy ridge in Corralitos, overlooking Monterey Bay, they planted their first three acres of Pinot Noir. With Jim as Winemaker, they produced their first vintage of Pinot Noir in 1999. The next year, they built the new winery building and continued to expand their Pinot Noir plantings, while also planting an acre of Chardonnay. Today, they farm a total of 26 acres of Pinot noir and their original acre of Chardonnay.
Early in 2011, their son Spencer joined Windy Oaks as assistant winemaker, upon completing the Winemaking Certification program at UC Davis. Prior to joining Windy Oaks, Spencer spent 6 months in Burgundy interning at Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard. In October 2011, Lucas Orme joined Windy Oaks, after also completing the Winemaking Certification program at UC Davis. Lucas assists in the winemaking and also participates in vineyard management. On Saturdays, when the tasting room is open, you will often find the Schultze’s other son James assisting Judy in the tasting room.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.