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Wine Recommendation
Beauregard Vineyards
2004 Pinot Noir, Trout Gulch(Santa Cruz Mountains)
From Gerry Turgeon’s 17-acre Trout Gulch Vineyard in Aptos, this is a solid Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot with all the right stuffing. Planted by winemaker Ryan Beauregard’s father Jim in the early 1980s, most of the vineyard is Chardonnay, a good deal of which goes into Trout Gulch’s sparkling wines. The remaining 4 acres is a field blend of Pinot clones sourced from some of the finest vineyards in California. Ryan began making wine from this fruit in 2003. This 2004 is an excellent example of the bright raspberry and cherry fruit from the somewhat more moderate climate vineyards of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Aromas of sweet cherry candy and earthy mushrooms promise more of the same on the palate, where they are energized by sugar plums, sweet raspberries, crushed peppercorns and a persistent reminder of forest-grown mushrooms. Do I detect a hint of truffles here? Yum. The medium-light body soars across the palate on a skatewing of acidity that delivers a zing to the delightful mineral-tinged finish.
In a roundup of Central Coast Pinots by the San Francisco Chronicle, this wine placed 2nd of 39 entries. What a nice example of all those unique things that characterize Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noirs: sugar and spice, and everything nice and a jeweled rapier of acidity just to keep the fight fair. And balanced. A model for political debates, of which we are about to witness many.
(Alc: 14.6%, Retail: $45)
Reviewed May 15, 2007 by Laura Ness.
Other reviewed wines from Beauregard Vineyards
The Wine
Winery: Beauregard Vineyards |
The Reviewer
Laura Ness
A wine writer and wine judge for major publications and competitions around the country, Laura Ness likens wine to the experience of music. She is always looking for that ubiquitous marriage of rhythm, melody, and flawless execution. What is good music? You know it when you get lost in it. What is good wine? It is music in your mouth. |