Clarice Wine Company, Santa Lucia Highlands (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2018

 Clarice is a new project by veteran winemaker Adam Lee, one of the best-known Pinot Noir winemakers in California and founder of Siduri Wines.  His wines are sourced from the Santa Lucia Highlands, which is situated south of the Monterey Bay on California’s central coast.  The glass bursts with dark cherry, tobacco leaves, rosebud, and damp earth aromas.  The palate is rich with ripe dark fruits that are enhanced by forest floor notes.   The wine is 77.9% whole cluster fermented (wine made with whole bunches of grapes including their stems), which provides a firm but round tannin structure that carries over to a generous finish.  Sourced from two sites (62.5% Garys’ Vineyard, 37.5% Rosella’s Vineyard).   I would anticipate this firing on all cylinders for the next five years at least.