2006 Tantara Evelyn Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

150 cases, $90. This wine was first produced in 1998 and honors Evelyn Waldron, co-owner Bill Cates’ mother who passed away in 1998. This wine is a cuvee, meant to represent the pinnacle of the vintage. It is not always the biggest wine in scale, but with great balance and finesse. It contains a bit more whole cluster than the other Tantara single vineyard wines. The wine is built around Pinot Noir from Block 1 at Bien Nacido Vineyard, planted to Mt. Eden and 115 clones. The particular block the grapes are sourced from is extremely stressed and low yielding, producing intense fruit. Some fruit is also blended from Dierberg Vineyard and/or Solomon Hills Vineyard, and some from Santa Rita Hills, depending on what best harmonizes. Release date is July 26, 2008. · This wine almost brought me to my knees. Seamless in every way, it was brimming with pinotosity. An extroverted nose, tannin so fine as to be imperceptible, and a long, chewy finish. The velvety mouth feel was remarkable. Worth every penny. Reviewed July 7, 2008

Winery: Tantara
From article: Sensations