Center of Effort Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2016
- we92
- v91
- jd89
Category | Red Wine |
Varietal | |
Region | California, Central Coast, Edna Valley |
Brand | Center of Effort |
Alcohol/vol | 13.6% |
Powerful tones of ripe red plum and shaved fennel root. This vintage is particularly savory, displaying earthy aromas of new leather, chicory, and vetivert. Complex and long, it will evolve in your glass over the course of an evening.
ESTATE VINEYARD
Our Pinot Noir comes exclusively from the Center of Effort Estate in the western foothills of the Edna Valley, just 4.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The 2016 vintage was balanced, and of high quality across our estate. Some of the newly developed vineyard blocks began to come into production, broadening our palette of Pinot Noir selections for inclusion in this wine. Entirely hand-harvested during the cool overnight hours and processed immediately upon delivery to the winery in the morning.
WINEMAKING
Each sub-block was separately hand-harvested, followed by small-lot fermentation with manual daily punch-downs for a balanced extraction of color and flavor. Approximately 15% of the fruit was whole-cluster fermented by native yeast. Aging took place over 11 months in French oak, approximately 30% new, the balance once-filled and neutral. The wine was bottled without fining or sterile filtration in order to retain the most authentic expression of our estate vineyard.
ABOUT EFFORT WINES
Effort is the companion label to our flagship Center of Effort wines. Each lot of the vintage is crafted in accordance with our vigilant standards of quality, all competing for the crown. However, only a handful of elite lots are ultimately designated for Center of Effort. What remains is our best effort of the vintage. Stylistically, Effort wines exhibit a more approachable, fruit-forward style, bringing diversity and dimension to our portfolio.
Wine Enthusiast
- we92
Candied black raspberry, white pepper and bay leaf make for a lively, aromatic entry to this bottling. There is an ample amount of acidity on the palate, but also plenty of fruit and spice, from dark berry to thyme and ginger.
Vinous
- v91
(raised in French oak barrels, 30% of them new) Vivid red. Perfumed red and dark berry, candied rose and vanilla scents are complemented by a smoky topnote. Appealingly sweet black raspberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors are supported by a spine of juicy acidity that provides lift and clarity. Conveys an appealing blend of power and finesse and finishes long and spicy, with fine-grained tannins coming in slowly.
Jeb Dunnuck
- jd89
The 2016 Pinot Noir EFFORT is another rock-solid wine from this estate. Bottled early with the idea of making a softer style, it offers attractive notes of ripe cherries, underbrush, spice, and dried herbs in a medium-bodied, elegant, charming style. Drink it over the coming 3-5 years.