2005 Windward Vineyard Gold Barrel Select Paso Robles Westside

14.1% alc., 250 cases, $60. Owners Marc Goldberg and Maggie D’Ambrosia purchased 25 acres of rolling hills off Highway 46, west of Highway 101 near Templeton. The site’s rocky limestone, sloping well-drained soil and location the Templeton Gap seemed ideal for Pinot Noir. They cleared the land (previously a rhododendron farm) and planted 10 acres of Pinot Noir in 1990. The four clonal selections chosen were HMR (Paso Robles), Adelsheim (Oregon), Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict. Goldberg’s reverence for Burgundy has led him to style his wines in an Old World fashion and his label proudly displays the word monopole (monopole is a Burgundian concept which means the vineyard has one owner and both viticulture and vinification are handled under one roof). The first vintage of 320 cases was 1993 and Windward Vineyard Pinot Noirs have received many accolades since. · Charming perfume of red cherries, strawberries, oak and Xmas spice. Tasty cherry attack which persists with a clean and tangy finish and suede-like tannins. Reviewed December 16, 2007

Winery: Windward Vineyard
From article: Pinot Noir Shootout Prelims