22 Santa Margarita Pinot Noir Clone 05

100% Pinot Noir

I will never forget the first time I walked through this vineyard. While taking short, down slope steps and gazing at the steep inner mountain slopes, my attention was pulled to the ground. As if I were walking on some temperate beach, whole oysters the size of my hand lay strewn haphazardly as if the waves had left them after a storm. Closer inspection revealed their true nature… they were rock hard and heavy! This whole limestone vineyard was littered with ancient, fossilized oysters!! Known as one of the Burgundian, “Pommard” clones (prevalent before the Dijon clones arrived in the USA), 05 was one of the earliest selections widely cultivated in California. It’s rusticity, dark fruit, earthiness and spiciness are still the hallmarks of great pinot throughout the world.