San Simeon Pinot Noir Monterey, 2000
Oct 31 '04
The Bottom Line A Gold Medal winning Pinot Noir at the 2002 Orange County Fair (California).
San Simeon is a label of the Riboli family's San Antonio Winery--ranked as one of the 30 largest wineries in North America and the "only producing winery" in Los Angeles (at least the city, that is). Wines marketed under this label are produced from fruit harvested in California's Central Coast appellations of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey. San Antonio winery produces over 500,000 cases of wine per year, but it maintains a portfolio of small, boutique brands that most people may not be familiar with: San Simeon, Maddalena, Santo Stefano, La Quinta, and Aliento Del Sol.
http://winebusiness.com/specialsection/Top30Wineries.cfm?winery=26
Now, then, on to my wine this Halloween afternoon:
San Simeon Pinot Noir Monterey, 2000
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Alcohol: 13.5% by volume.
Production: Fruit harvested from the Riboli family's Loma Vista vineyard in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey, California. Fermented in small, open tanks and aged in 100% French Oak barrels (30% of which were new) for 10 months.
Appearance: Dark plum red/purple with a clean appearance.
Aroma: Raspberry and ripe strawberry aromas are attractively accented by a spicy oak with some dried vegetative tones of tea as well as some phenolic leather and tar notes. A festive, holiday aroma; attractive, but a bit spicy.
Flavor: Soft tannins that wrap around fresh fruit flavors of raspberry, plum and cherry with accenting tones of cocoa and pepper spice. Lingering red fruit finish with a spike of peppery oak and then a trailing flavor of cinnamon and cocoa. Definitely a wine that seeks some food accompaniment.
Price and Availability: I purchased this wine at the San Antonio Winery in Los Angeles... it's a place I like to visit from time-to-time. I enjoy the quick-and-easy, almost-cafeteria-style dining at the Maddalena Restaurant and, of course, the free wine tastings in the tasting room. Price: $16.95 per bottle, plus 8¼% sales tax. Production for the year 2000 was fairly small; only 4,100 cases produced. You may be able to find this wine in some specialty shops, but your best bet would be to order online, or purchase directly at the winery (either in Los Angeles or at the Ontario, California, tasting room).
Recommendations: Would pair well with grilled salmon or roast duck. Compares favorably with the Pedroncelli F. Johnson Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2002 I tried last Friday evening with my dinner of rabbit at La Vie French Restaurant in Rosemead--a Vietnamese owned and operated French restaurant where you can get a great meal for about $20 a dish, including salad, soup, main course, and coffee.
For the money, though, I think I'd recommend the Pinot from Pedroncelli. The 2002 Pedroncelli Pinot Noir (I rank 86, 4-stars, adding an extra point for flavor; this is a wine label under-represented at Epinions) was a little softer and gentler, with less spice and more cola and vanillin flavors.)
http://pedroncelli.com/wines/ss/pn_jv_02.asp
Verdict: San Simeon Pinot Noir Monterey, 2000
Appearance: 4/5
Aroma: 17/20
Flavor: 34/40
Body: 8/10
Overall Quality: 22/25
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My Score: 85 -- 4 stars.
Awards:
Gold Medal, 2002 Orange County Fair (California)
Best of Class - Silver Medal, 2002 California State Fair
The wine maker's website is located here:
http://www.sanantoniowinery.com/
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Epinions.com ID:
4-1-1
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 - Top 50 |
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Member: Tom Carr
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 1090
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