Mail Road Mt. Carmel Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, USA 2021

Established in 1989 – on land surrounding a long since abandoned monastery of cloistered, Carmelite nuns – Mt. Carmel straddles the limestone saddle of a highly-exposed, two-tiered mountain immediately north of the Santa Ynez River, at the eastern end of The Sta. Rita Hills. Mt. Carmel consists of six blocks over a total of 22.5 acres, planted to a variety of own-rooted, organically and principally dry-farmed, heritage chardonnay and pinot noir clones. The wines produced by Mt. Carmel fruit are remarkable in their lean toward site specifically and marked by deep concentration, exceptional depth, structural complexity and bracing acidity.

"Moving to the 2021 releases, the 2021 Pinot Noir Mount Carmel Vineyard is slightly deeper ruby-hued and has a gorgeous perfume of ripe red and black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, white pepper, and obvious minerality. It’s stunning on the palate as well, with medium to full body, integrated acidity, and ripe yet building tannins. I love its purity, and it's rich and concentrated yet stays graceful, well-balanced, and light on its feet. Give bottles a year or three and enjoy over the following decade." Jeb Dunnuck 96