Skip to main content
Our biggest wine deals. Available by text! Join Winetext.com today!

2013 Wenzlau Pinot Noir EstatePinot Noir from United States

$49.99

List Price: $60.00

You're saving $10.01!

These new releases from Wenzlau show a surprising amount of power across the board. Wenzlau (and neighboring Mt. Carmel) is a rugged, high-altitude site with significant exposu...

  • 92 Jeb Dunnuck - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  • 91+ Antonio Galloni - Vinous
Image selector to view bottle Icon sized image of item case card

About

Ratings:

92

Coming from their estate vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and made by Justin Willett of Tyler Wines, the 2013 Pinot Noir is a beautiful, elegant and seamless red that exhibits classy notes of sweet cherries, rose bush, wet rock and charcoal. Medium-bodied, lively and pure, with ultra-fine tannin structure, it should have a decade or more of overall longevity. Mostly destemmed, it spent 18 months in 25% new French oak prior to bottling.

91+ Antonio Galloni - Vinous

A rich, ample wine, the 2013 Pinot Noir Estate is very tightly wound today. The flavors are intense and dark, almost as if you could taste the intense mineral, ash, smoke, graphite and licorice that appear to emanate from these distinctive, black soils in the Sta. Rita Hills. The inclusion of 33% whole clusters adds a measure of aromatic nuance and exoticism, with hints of rose petal, star anise and blood orange that develop on the beguiling finish.

Product Description:

These new releases from Wenzlau show a surprising amount of power across the board. Wenzlau (and neighboring Mt. Carmel) is a rugged, high-altitude site with significant exposure to the elements. Still, my impression is that these wines are a bit forced. The Chardonnay follows a pretty classic, Burgundian-style aging protocol, one year in French oak (25% new) followed by 4-6 months in tank prior to bottling, while the Pinots spend 12-15 days on the skins followed by 18-20 months in barrel (33-40% new) with one racking. It would be great to see Wenzlau settle on a more consistent house style.

Product Detail

Item # 103129
Country United States
Region California
Sub-Region Central Coast
Ratings

92 - Jeb Dunnuck - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

91+ - Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Vintage 2013
Color Red
ABV 13.5%
Varietal(s) Pinot Noir
Size 750mL
Closure Cork
Features
Taste ripe cherry, plum, strawberry, raspberry and mushroom
Nose barnyard, cherry, plum, game and tomato