Belle Glos Santa Maria Valley & Sonoma Coast

The name "Caymus" registers only one thought for most people, Cabernet Sauvignon, but this young project from the son and grandson team behind Caymus hopes to change all that. Belle Glos, named for Chuck Wagner's mother Lorna Belle Glos-Wagner, is grown on the Sonoma Coast, and focusses solely on modern, American Pinot Noir. What most people are unaware of is that Caymus had produced some Pinot Noirs in Rutherford from the 1960's to the early 1990's that were met with some acclaim, but as their reputation for Cabernet Sauvignon grew, so did their focus on "The King of All Grapes". 2002 saw the release of the first vintage of Belle Glos Pinot Noir, then labelled simply "Sonoma Coast", since 2007 they've released three single-vineyard designate Pinot Noirs, as well as the blended "Sonoma Coast" Pinot Noir.

Belle Glos Pinot Noir "Meiomi" Sonoma Coast 2006 This Sonoma Coast bottling was created to showcase the potential of this emerging coastal growing region. The grapes we selected came from three vineyards within the sub-appellations of this area, each of which produced Pinot Noir with its own character. In blending these wines together, Joseph Wagner wanted to achieve a multi-layered wine that revealed the fruit's origins but also expressed the many flavors of the coastlands. Even within the confines of the Sonoma Coast appellation, there are important differences in site, soil and climate. In wines produced from the western area, cherry notes are well developed and acidity is slightly higher. In the east, the fruit notes are darker and more earthy. In the inland area, the wines are full bodied and fruity with sweet tannins and beautiful balance. In combination, these characteristics enhance and build on each other. Clear, dark ruby colour. Rich strawberry/cranberry aromas with a hint of sweet, smoky oak. In the mouth, firm acids yield to full, ripe cranberry flavours and silky tannins. The wine's crisp acidity and moderate tannin seem to extend the fruity, lightly smoke-tinged cranberry finish. "Mieomi means "coast" in native Wappo and its use at Belle Glos to signify the cool coastal source of the fruit. I like this effort with its black cherry and spicy celery salt and beetroot aromas and flavours. The palate is soft and supple with earthy black fruits notes in the finish. Best now and over the next year or so with salmon and lighter white meat dishes." 89 points, Anthony Gismondi March 2008

Belle Glos Pinot Noir "Taylor Lane Vineyard" 2006 Just six miles from the Pacific Ocean, Taylor Lane Vineyard lies in a cool, breezy, and often foggy area of the "Occidental Ridges". Because of this locale, it is often difficult to fully ripen the grapes in all vintages, so Vineyardist/Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner has adopted an Italian-style 'pergola' trellis system. This style of overhead canopy maximizes the photosynthetic capabilities of the leaves by exposing them in a "solar panel-esque" layout and minimizes vine-to-vine shading, while achieving excellent air-circulation. Dijon clones 113, 114, and 115 were chosen due to the cool climate and the water retention capacity of the Goldridge Loam soils. These clones produce wines of silky texture, bold berry and earth flavours, and rich, dark colour. The grapes for the 2006 "Taylor Lane Vineyard" Pinot Noir were hand harvested in mid to late September. In the cellar, the fruit was handled very gently, beginning each lot with an extended cold soak and using punch-down and cap-wetting techniques designed to extract the optimal amount of colour and flavour. The wines were aged in French oak barriques (2/3 new, 1/3 seasoned) for nine months, enhancing the refined layers of toast and spice flavours. This beautiful Pinot Noir has a dark garnet colour, scents of rosebuds and an essence of dark cherries with hints of toasty oak. The flavours of bright cherries and freshly tilled earth reflect against a subtle spice background. Full-flavoured, even opulent, yet balanced, with firm acidity. There is a long and lush, fruit-filled finish that seems to call out for another sip.

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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