2007 Foley Estates Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills- USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/7/2009)
Fantastic nose of raspberry, cherry and earthiness. All of this and more carries through on the palate. Smooth in the mouth with a medium + finish.
Christmas party at Gabriels. First bottle was a Ferrari-Carano cab ($46). All the hallmarks of a $20 CA cab. Some fruit, but way too much tannin and oak to be worth ordering a second bottle. Some of this may not be fair, as the wine came off a shelf and had to be at 70 degrees.
But, due to the less than stellar cabs at less than $100, decided to take the risk (Pinot after a Cab) and try out the Foley. Felt even better about it when they said these bottles were in the cellar. First whiff and I was ecstatic. Two bottles and both were fabulous.
The AVA benefits from brisk daily ocean breezes and early forming, late dissipating maritime fog which blankets the vineyards and makes the Santa Rita Hills one of the coolest growing regions in the world. The soil types are varied, with marine sand, loam, clay and limestone widely found. Elevations range from virtual sea level to eighteen hundred feet. The area is semi-arid, with average rainfall of thirteen inches annually. Almost all rainfall comes between the months of December and May. This permits vintners the opportunity to allow fruit extended “hang time”, without the menace of fall rains that afflict other Pinot Noir and Chardonnay growing regions.