Belle Glos 2018 Pinot Noir, Clark & Telephone Vyd., Santa Maria Vly. Magnum 1.5L

Magnum, 1.5 Liter
Belle Glos is a super premium Pinot Noir produced by none other than the Wagner family, famous for Caymus Vineyards. The striking red wax capsule is a statement to the exceptional character of this wine. The Wagner family purchased prime vineyard property in the several Pinot Noir hot spots including this vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. Clark & Telephone Vineyard, located near the corner of Clark Avenue and Telephone Road in the Santa Maria Valley, is cooled by wind and fog that snakes in from the Pacific Ocean along a channel of the Santa Maria River. Established in 1972, the Clark & Telephone Vineyard was planted "own root" to the Martini clone. This heirloom clone of Pinot Noir, one of the first to grace the California coastlands, has become something of a lost treasure.

2018 was a superb vintage with above average quality fruit characterized by vibrant acidity and good flavor concentration, that really brought the depth of flavor that this wine is known for. A cold-soak for up to two weeks to soften the skins and allow for ideal extraction was followed by a slow fermentation. The wine aged in 60% new French oak barrels for nine months.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 94 points saying "Plush aromas of black cherry, baked strawberry, caramel and vanilla make for a rich, inviting nose. There’s a hearty texture to the palate, yet freshness remains intact, with a ripe boysenberry flavor that’s accented by licorice and fennel pollen."