Waterstone Pinot Noir Carneros 2012

Review:

Displays a compelling bouquet of strawberry, summer wildflowers, white rock, cola and the renowned Santa Maria Spice. Tender, lithe flavors of tree ripened cherry, dried herbs and hibiscus tea follow, with a mouthfeel made of pure silk.

The Bien Nacido Vineyard is located in the Santa Maria Valley on the South Central Coast of California, just east of Santa Maria. The topography of the valley features transverse ranges with an east/west orientation, opening up to the Pacific Ocean. The climate is strongly influenced by the ocean providing ideal temperate growing conditions for Pinot Noir. Early spring warming, mild summer temperatures and late arriving cold fall temperatures provide a long growing season for the development of rich color along with concentrated and complex flavors.

Review:

An intricately layered nose of sagebrush, blood, pencil lead, soy, beef jerky, lilac, violet, lavender and tight cranberries shows on this stunning wine from the historic vineyard. The palate offers rounded red fruits and cherry tomatoes that tighten around a sagebrush core, bolstered by lots of oregano, black pepper, dried basil and eucalyptus.

-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points

Maysara Asha Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir

22 months in 40% new French oak barrel

Asha is an ancient Persian Word describing one who has a clean conscience for good thoughts, words, and deeds with a pure demeanor and performance.
A bejeweled glassful of garnets, Asha snakes onto your palate with amarena cherries, clove and a tantalizing whisp of … what is that? A distant campfire? Elegant and slippery tannins sway to a tune played upon vanilla violins.

At Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyard, we are committed to cap-turing the complete expression of our land and conveying it to you through superior quality in every bottle. We practice only low-impact, holistic farming methods in our Demeter Certified Biodynamic Vineyard. We are confident these practices are the best way to capture the true essence of the soil in our fruit and ensure health of our vines and the unique accent of our terroir for generations. This philosophy is carried into the cellar, where Demeter Certified Biodynamic wine-making practices produce wines with intensity, sophistication and elegance while maintaining a purity of both fruit and earth.

Pair with dishes that utilize slow braised meats, something with complex layers of spices and caramelization, as the mid-palate is ensorcelled with lively acidity and don't forget those tannins!

Review:

"Aromas of walnuts, green-tea and strawberry character. Full body, lots of fresh and bright fruit, chewy yet velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Lovely now but even better with a year or two's ageing to soften."

- James Suckling (November 2016), 93 pts

Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noir  is made of 100 percent Pinot Noir

11 months in 10% new French oak barrels

According to ancient Persian legend, King Jamsheed was able to observe his entire realm by peering into his full wine goblet.

Beginning with a generous core of red-black fruits, the McMinnville AVA saunters over the palate with both bravado and grace. Blackberry and fresh cracked pepper entwine perfectly with matured and lengthy tannins on the finish. The depth of this unassuming bottling is always an adventure to mine. Some older prospectors hear tell of herbal notes… silver sage? rosemary?

At Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyard, we are committed to cap-turing the complete expression of our land and conveying it to you through superior quality in every bottle. We practice only low-impact, holistic farming methods in our Demeter Certified Biodynamic Vineyard. We are confident these practices are the best way to capture the true essence of the soil in our fruit and ensure health of our vines and the unique accent of our terroir for generations. This philosophy is carried into the cellar, where Demeter Certified Biodynamic wine-making practices produce wines with intensity, sophistication and elegance while maintaining a purity of both fruit and earth.

Always offering generous accessibility, pair Jamsheed with darker fowl, grilled meats or salmon, even caramelized veggies.

 Waterstone Chardonnay Carneros is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

The grapes for this wine were grown in the Carneros region, where soils are dense, shallow, of low to moderate fertility, and high in clay content. While the soils lead to low yields, the region's maritime climate allows a longer growing season; the end result is balanced color, flavor and acidity in the harvested grapes. This Chardonnay is produced from grapes grown in the Truchard Vineyard in northeastern Carneros; this vineyard is under long-term contracts, providing consistency from vintage to vintage.

Aromas of lemon zest, white pear, sweet pastry and hazelnut lead onto a palate that is creamy with bright, fresh flavors of Meyer lemon and a touch of minerality.

DuMol Ryan Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard 2016 is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.

The new vintage of our Widdoes Vineyard Ryan is the most fruit-driven Pinot Noir of the year, and I expect it will provide great drinking pleasure on release and over the next decade. Working with this special vineyard since 1996, we have a level of intimacy with these vines that is unmatched within our portfolio —an intimacy, I believe, that is evident in the wine itself. It naturally and easily seduces, possessing a perfect balance between its fruit, savory and structural elements such that nothing feels forced or confected. Fruit purity is at the core: sleek, dark and intense with building volume. 

Vivid flavors of tiny wild berry fruits, bursting with intensity, are supported by vibrant pinpoint acidity that ensures all elements flow to the last lingering echo of flavor. Black pepper and cedar box aromas comingle with pure dark cherry compote flavors as beautiful floral notes are found throughout, the texture deep and layered. For me, the quality and personality align with the 2015 vintage, a wine I particularly love. I’m also reminded of the 2012 vintage, a deep, showy wine that is drinking wonderfully right now. Drink between 2019 and 2026.

Review:

The 2016 Pinot Noir Ryan Widdoes Vineyard is one of the most distinctive wines in this lineup. Soaring, perfumed aromatics and bright, red-toned fruit give the Widdoes much of its multi-faceted profile. Red berry fruit, blood orange, mint and floral overtones build as this striking, deeply expressive Pinot shows off its unmistakable pedigree and pure class.

-- Antonio Galloni  95 Points