You might expect that a wine labeled ‘Monument’ would have an extra gear, and you would be right if the winery happened to be Byron. Monument is winemaker Jonathan Nagy’s selection of the finest barrels of the vintage from the estate Nielson vineyard. The ’08 Monument is a beautiful wine that expresses notes of dark cherry and plum, and perhaps even some darker tones, with refined tannins that alone elevate it beyond the other Pinots from Byron in this vintage. It shows a lovely floral note and offers focused fruit aromas on the palate and through the lingering finish, with a slight touch of minerality for added complexity.
Byron, Santa Maria Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2008
By Robert Whitley