Pali Wine Co., Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2014

Pali is trailblazing a new/old business model in the industry.  Their production facility in Lompoc fills three tasting rooms (including ones in Santa Barbara and newly in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood).  The model of “Cut out the middleman and pass the savings on to the consumer” hasn’t been done this way too often since the old Brookside Winery rooms that used to dot the Southern California landscape.   Pinot Noir specialists, they hit me square in the face with a twenty two dollar bottle that could easily command three times that, with deep cherry fruit, fresh turned field, cardamom and hibiscus aromas.  The palate translates the fruit and spice well over bright acidity, with mulling spice notes coming forward in a long finish.  A great value!