Belle Glos 2016 Balade, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara

Belle Glos is a super premium Pinot Noir produced by none other than the Wagner family, owners of Caymus Vineyards. The striking red wax capsule is a statement to the exceptional character of these wines. The family has sought out prime vineyard property in the best Pinot Noir producing regions in California.

The word Balade, French for ‘wandering’, is a fitting term for the Belle Glos team’s annual exploration of single-vineyard pinot noir blocks on the west coast. Each vintage, they will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling. This is the selection from the outstanding 2016 vintage; a superb single vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley.  Harvested early in the morning so the fruit would arrive at the winery while the grapes were still cool to preserve their vineyard-fresh flavors. After destemming (but not crushing) the berries, we cold-soaked the must for 14 days to soften the skins and allow for ideal extraction. During fermentation in a combination of closed and open-top stainless steel fermenters. The wine aged in 100% French oak (60% new) for up to 12 months.

The Wine Spectator scored this 91 points saying "Deeply colored and filled with intense Asian spice notes to the kirsch, dark plum and boysenberry flavors. Chocolate and cream details show on the suave, richly spiced finish. Drink now through 2024."