January 25, 2012
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Longoria
| Owner(s) | Rick Longoria |
| Web site | www.longoriawine.com |
| Link to this site |
Rick Longoria is a veteran winemaker in Santa Barbara County. He appeared on the local scene in 1976 after spending two years at Buena Vista Winery where he developed a lifelong friendship with Andre Tchelistcheff. He crafts 3,500 cases of several varietals from his winery in Lompoc under the Longoria label (established 1982). His featured Pinot Noir is sourced from his 8-acre estate Fe Ciega Vineyard located in the south-west part of the appellation. He also sources grapes from Rancho Santa Rosa, Bien Nacido Vineyard, and Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. I can remember way back in the early 80s when I first became really captivated by Pinot Noir and Longoria Pinot Noir was one of the labels I sought out as one of the few at the time to show the promise that has eventually come to pass.
You can purchase wines online. Check out the “Blues Cuvee” lithographs for sale. 866-759-4637. The tasting room is open daily at 2935 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, 805-688-0305.
Articles About Longoria
Reviewed Wines
2009 Longoria Lovely Rita Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., pH 3.52,
TA 0.55, 355 cases, $32. A blend of clones 115, 667 and Pommard from the
Fe Ciega Vineyard. Since 667 is the most intense and tannic clone, it was
fermented in a Ganimedes tank from Italy that uses carbon dioxide created by
the fermentation to gently pump over the juice without any breaking of the
skins or seeds resulting in softer tannins. The tank also allows peak
temperature to be controlled enhancing the aromatics. Aged 11 months in
25% new French oak barrels and aged 6 months in bottle before release.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Appealing perfume of dark berries
and plums with a hint of pine, vanillin and spice. Moderately rich in intensity
with pleasing array of sweet dark fruits and flavors of mushu plum sauce and slight red licorice and pine pitch.
Smooth on the palate with reserved tannins. Highly drinkable now. Good (+).
Reviewed July 1, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Longoria Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., pH 3.58, TA 0.58, 150
cases, $45. 100% de-stemmed, 4-day cold soak, inoculated fermentation, 18 days on skins, aged 10 months
in 30% new French oak barrels. Lightly fine and filtered.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass.
Aromas of brier, sage, coffee and mocha. Long in the mouth with tasteful darker berries and cherries that are
dominated by oak-driven flavors including coffee and mocha. Smoothly textured with moderate ripe fruit
tannins. A little fruitier the following day but still sporting prominent coffee flavor from a previously opened and
re-corked bottle. Oak should integrate with cellaring, but at this time I can only rate the wine as Decent.
Reviewed July 1, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Longoria Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., pH
3.55, TA 0.58, 110 cases, $45. Clone 667. 3-day cold soak, inoculated
fermentation, 12% whole clusters in one bin, aged in 30% new French oak
barrels. Fined and filtered.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Fruity
nose featuring dark red berries and cherries and a hint of oak. Delicious core
of discreetly rich strawberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruits with a
subtle hint of citrus peel in the background. The most seamless, feminine and
satiny wine of the 2009s tasted. Even better the next day from a previously
opened and re-corked bottle. Ready for current drinking. Very good.
Reviewed July 1, 2011
ARTICLE »
2008 Longoria Fe Ciega Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2%
alc., pH 3.61, 616 cases, $48. Pommard, Dijon 115 and 667. Aged 11
months in 28% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in
the glass. A savory wine with aromas of berry jam, deeply colored red
roses, underbrush, herbs and toasty oak. Plenty of black raspberry and
black cherry fruit is front and center with accents of oak and grilled meat.
Supple in the mouth with fine grain tannins enrobing the hi-tone fruit that
persists with a vengeance on the great finish. Even better the next day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle with better integration of oak-derived
flavors and aromas. This is a wine of character and interest that sings its own
tune. Further cellaring should enhance its pleasure.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2005 Longoria Fe Ciega Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
770 cases, $48.
Rick believes in a diversity of clones and planted Pommard, 115, and 667
here in 1997.
·
The nose is rich and flamboyant with attractive toast, spice and
dark cherry aromas. There is a nice follow through with dusty tannins and a
touch of herbalness and oak on the finish. This vineyard produces concentrated
fruit, and this wine has what the French call croquent, a concentrated
core of flavor much like a crunchy hard candy.
Reviewed July 23, 2007
ARTICLE »
2009 Longoria Lovely Rita Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., pH 3.52, TA 0.55, 355 cases, $32. A blend of clones 115, 667 and Pommard from the Fe Ciega Vineyard. Since 667 is the most intense and tannic clone, it was fermented in a Ganimedes tank from Italy that uses carbon dioxide created by the fermentation to gently pump over the juice without any breaking of the skins or seeds resulting in softer tannins. The tank also allows peak temperature to be controlled enhancing the aromatics. Aged 11 months in 25% new French oak barrels and aged 6 months in bottle before release. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Appealing perfume of dark berries and plums with a hint of pine, vanillin and spice. Moderately rich in intensity with pleasing array of sweet dark fruits and flavors of mushu plum sauce and slight red licorice and pine pitch. Smooth on the palate with reserved tannins. Highly drinkable now. Good (+). Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Longoria Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., pH 3.58, TA 0.58, 150 cases, $45. 100% de-stemmed, 4-day cold soak, inoculated fermentation, 18 days on skins, aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Lightly fine and filtered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of brier, sage, coffee and mocha. Long in the mouth with tasteful darker berries and cherries that are dominated by oak-driven flavors including coffee and mocha. Smoothly textured with moderate ripe fruit tannins. A little fruitier the following day but still sporting prominent coffee flavor from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Oak should integrate with cellaring, but at this time I can only rate the wine as Decent. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Longoria Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.58, 110 cases, $45. Clone 667. 3-day cold soak, inoculated fermentation, 12% whole clusters in one bin, aged in 30% new French oak barrels. Fined and filtered. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Fruity nose featuring dark red berries and cherries and a hint of oak. Delicious core of discreetly rich strawberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruits with a subtle hint of citrus peel in the background. The most seamless, feminine and satiny wine of the 2009s tasted. Even better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Ready for current drinking. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »
2008 Longoria Fe Ciega Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.61, 616 cases, $48. Pommard, Dijon 115 and 667. Aged 11 months in 28% new French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. A savory wine with aromas of berry jam, deeply colored red roses, underbrush, herbs and toasty oak. Plenty of black raspberry and black cherry fruit is front and center with accents of oak and grilled meat. Supple in the mouth with fine grain tannins enrobing the hi-tone fruit that persists with a vengeance on the great finish. Even better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with better integration of oak-derived flavors and aromas. This is a wine of character and interest that sings its own tune. Further cellaring should enhance its pleasure. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2005 Longoria Fe Ciega Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
770 cases, $48. Rick believes in a diversity of clones and planted Pommard, 115, and 667 here in 1997. · The nose is rich and flamboyant with attractive toast, spice and dark cherry aromas. There is a nice follow through with dusty tannins and a touch of herbalness and oak on the finish. This vineyard produces concentrated fruit, and this wine has what the French call croquent, a concentrated core of flavor much like a crunchy hard candy. Reviewed July 23, 2007 ARTICLE »
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