CRU recently moved into this site – the former Paraiso Springs – and is off to the races with the estate fruit. The tart, fresh side of Pinot Noir gets the nod here, with brushy dry earth notes alongside strawberry and tart cherry fruit. There is some oak that’s still folding in here, but a couple of years in your cellar will smooth the edges and evolve this into a real beauty. This is a nicely realized Pinot Noir with a sense of place.
CRU Winery, Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2021
By Rich Cook