Cru Winery Pinot Noir Montage 2021 (75cl, 13.8%)

A 100% Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, California, bottled at 13.8% ABV in a 750ml bottle. The 2021 vintage earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. It is aged for nine months in 15% new French oak barrels from the Damy and Billon cooperages, toasted at medium and medium-plus levels. The wine is made by CRU Wine Company with winemaker Ken Post, sourcing fruit from multiple clones planted at varying elevations across the Santa Lucia Highlands. The restrained oak programme keeps vineyard character and clonal diversity at the centre. Black cherry and rose petal lead the nose, with cedar, forest floor and dark chocolate. The palate moves from juicy blackberry and pomegranate to cranberry, infused tea and plum, with pepper spice and toasted oak. The finish is long and soft, with chocolate, dried tea leaf and gentle tannin.