2017 LORING CLOS PEPE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR

If you’ve ever wondered whether a winemaker’s passion for their artistry could manifest itself directly into the flavors and personality of the wine they produce, just take one sip of ANY of Brian Loring’s Pinot Noirs and you’ll know… His passion for the Pinot Noir grape began in Burgundy and was later propelled by the wines of Josh Jensen (Calera), and from there reached Williams Selyem, Chalone, Sanford and Cottonwood Canyon.  The level of passion that he has for the varietal adds another dimension to his winemaking which is absolutely on-point.  His Pinot Noirs are revered for their ability to express terroir and for their uncanny levels of balance and charisma.  At under $40, they should not be missed.

We often note that vineyard owners have a clear advantage when it comes to selecting grapes for their own wines and knowing when to pick… They know their land like nobody else, and Brian recognized that and sought out some of California’s best Pinot Noir vineyards, then instructed the owners of each vineyard to treat the Loring blocks exactly the same way as they treat the blocks for the wines they produce for themselves.