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Wine Recommendation
Morgan Winery
2005 Pinot Noir, Rosella's Vineyard(Santa Lucia Highlands)
I’ve long been a fan of the wines from Morgan Winery in Salinas. Owner Dan Lee first gained attention for his Chardonnays, and they’re still excellent, but his Pinot Noirs are grabbing the spotlight these days. He and his winemaker, Gianni Abate, produce five Pinots; four, including this one, are from single vineyards.
Rosella’s Vineyard, owned by Gary Franscioni, is about three miles south of Lee’s own Double L Vineyard so it’s a bit warmer, but it’s still considered to be a cool site. This wine, priced at $55, is Morgan’s sixth bottling of a Rosella’s Pinot, and it’s utterly delicious. It displays ripe cherry and strawberry flavors, accented by nutmeg and cola notes. It’s well structured, but the tannins are fine and ripe, resulting in a supple finish. The 2005 vintage was marked by cool, even temperatures and an extended growing season, so the grapes got fully mature but not over-ripe. The wine spent 11 months in French oak, about half of it new. It’s the perfect wine to drink with a nice hunk of grilled wild salmon.
Reviewed May 30, 2007 by Laurie Daniel.
Other reviewed wines from Morgan Winery
The Wine
Winery: Morgan Winery |
The Reviewer
Laurie Daniel
Laurie Daniel, wine columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, has been reviewing wine for more than 10 years. She doesn’t use numbers, preferring to describe her recommended wines and let consumers decide for themselves. Laurie believes that bigger isn’t necessarily better; she’s partial to wines of balance, finesse and character. Her particular interests are Pinot Noir (versions that really taste like Pinot, that is) and aromatic whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. |