There’s a bright chili spiciness that sets this budget Pinot Noir apart from the pack. The winemaking team at J. Lohr has been given wide latitude to experiment with different techniques, and I suspect there might be some stem trials going on in addition to only 17% of the wine seeing any oak time. That stemmy character works well here, complimenting the rich dark fruit and damp earth. For a Pinot at this price, it’s definitely worth your time to try out. Unique!
J. Lohr, Monterey County (California) Pinot Noir 2013
By Rich Cook