January 25, 2012
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Native9
| Owner(s) | James Ontiveros |
| Web site | www.native9wine.com |
| Link to this site |
Native9 is James Ontiveros’s own label, the name signifying that he is the ninth generation of farmers in California. The Pinot Noir is from James’s family's 8-acre Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard which he manages located at 6525 Dominion Rd, in Santa Maria. The vineyard, which was planted in 1997 and 1998, is part of his family's 400-acre property. The vineyard contains four different rootstocks and eight different Pinot Noir clones. Seven wineries buy about 75% of the grapes. An additional 21 acres was planted in 2009 including heritage clones such as Mt. Eden and Swan from the nearby Byron property.
Foxen winemaker Bill Wathen made the first Native9 in 2002, but that vintage and the next were not released commercially. The inaugural 2004 vintage was well received for its moderately intense flavors of cherries, berries and loamy earth. Production remains about 160 cases annually. Paul Wilkins, a college friend at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and former assistant winemaker at Alban Vineyard in Edna Valley, is the current winemaker.
James often pours at the major Pinot Noir festivals. He also a partner with winemaker Paul Wilkins in Alta Maria (Pinot Noir and Syrah from purchased fruit) as well as the director of sales and marketing at Bien Nacido Vineyards. Native 9 is sold primarily through a mailing list.
Articles About Native9
Reviewed Wines
2008 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $60.
·
Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Dark
cherry and berry perfume with striking Moroccan spice and an underlying
green, stemmy note. A medium-bodied mix of cherries and berries taking on
more intensity over time in the glass and assuming a savory herbal tone. I
suspect the whole cluster fermentation contributes the attractive spice
elements to this wine as well as the unattractive green component. Tasted
later in the day with dinner, the wine really sang with the food. Tasted the
following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the green edge to
the aromas and flavors was still evident. Time will tell whether this will change.
Good.
Reviewed March 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2005 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
$52.
·
I have tasted
the 2004 and 2005 vintages several times and the wines always leave a smile
on my face. Like a boysenberry cobbler just out of the oven, this wine alerts
your taste buds. A ripe style with fruit to spare, it is long and plush with coating
tannins. The addition of stems, which varies with the vintage, gives the
wine structure and interest.
Reviewed July 30, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $52.
·
Dark
purple in color. Deep, dark fruits including plums and raisin and even a touch of port anchor this wine’s
aromatic profile.. Healthy and robust in structure with flashy, plush fruit and ripe flavors veering toward
root beer and port. The prodigious fruit and velveteen texture will be a crowd pleasure. This is the darker
side of Pinot but I like it. One for early drinking as the lower acidity may not support the fruit over the
long term.
Reviewed March 3, 2008
ARTICLE »
2008 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $60. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Dark cherry and berry perfume with striking Moroccan spice and an underlying green, stemmy note. A medium-bodied mix of cherries and berries taking on more intensity over time in the glass and assuming a savory herbal tone. I suspect the whole cluster fermentation contributes the attractive spice elements to this wine as well as the unattractive green component. Tasted later in the day with dinner, the wine really sang with the food. Tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the green edge to the aromas and flavors was still evident. Time will tell whether this will change. Good. Reviewed March 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2005 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
$52. · I have tasted the 2004 and 2005 vintages several times and the wines always leave a smile on my face. Like a boysenberry cobbler just out of the oven, this wine alerts your taste buds. A ripe style with fruit to spare, it is long and plush with coating tannins. The addition of stems, which varies with the vintage, gives the wine structure and interest. Reviewed July 30, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 Native9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $52. · Dark purple in color. Deep, dark fruits including plums and raisin and even a touch of port anchor this wine’s aromatic profile.. Healthy and robust in structure with flashy, plush fruit and ripe flavors veering toward root beer and port. The prodigious fruit and velveteen texture will be a crowd pleasure. This is the darker side of Pinot but I like it. One for early drinking as the lower acidity may not support the fruit over the long term. Reviewed March 3, 2008 ARTICLE »
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