Presqu’Ile, San Luis Obispo County (Central Coast, California) Pinot Noir 2014

 Presqu’ile buys grapes from the Phelan family who owns the Steiner Creek Vineyard, showing, once again, that consumers should not automatically shun wines that are not “estate.”  This Pinot Noir is a notch–or two–above their very good Santa Maria bottling with more engaging aromatics and greater depth.  Still showing restraint, it’s not a more muscular or “bigger,” wine; it is just more complex and suave.  It’s a beautiful example that power does not equal quality.