Alfaro Family Vineyards, “Heirloom Clones” Pinot Noir
Alfaro Family Vineyards, “Heirloom Clones” Pinot Noir

Alfaro Family Vineyards, “Heirloom Clones” Pinot Noir

California / Santa Cruz Mountains, United States 2019 (750mL)
Regular price$32.00
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Alfaro Family Vineyards, “Heirloom Clones” Pinot Noir

The Heirloom Clones Pinot Noir has become one of Alfaro's most adored products for its ability to drink impressively well out of the gate. Sourced from four small lots including their own estate, This wine relies on the synergy of clonal selection that includes the prized Calera, Mt. Eden, Pommard, Martini, and Swan clones. 


Like all of the Alfaro Pinots, the 2019 Heirloom Clones is crafted with a minimalist approach. The fruit was harvested in late September to undergo 20% whole cluster fermentation and eight months of maturation in neutral French oak. It was bottled without fining or filtering. The result is a vibrant, pale ruby-red wine packed with flavor and texture. Aromas of bright strawberry blossom, savory thyme, and faint sea breeze lead the way. The palate delivers a devastating kiss of black cherry, rhubarb, and dense forest floor. This wine is drinking beautifully now but has the potential to age five years. Ideally, pull the cork a half hour before serving at 55-60 degrees in large Burgundy stems. As for pairings, invite the lively acidity of this classic coastal Pinot Noir to balance a rich preparation of duck or salmon, or try the light, earthy wild rice salad. 

Alfaro Family Vineyards, “Heirloom Clones” Pinot Noir
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United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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