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 Vintage2016 Label 1 of 10 
(NOTE: Label borrowed from 2015 vintage.)
TypeRed
ProducerMorgan (web)
VarietyPinot Noir
Designationn/a
VineyardGarys' Vineyard
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionCentral Coast
AppellationSanta Lucia Highlands

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2019 and 2023 (based on 26 user opinions)

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 89 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 3 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by spidermark on 3/24/2024 & rated 92 points: Another tasting of this bottle a while later, perhaps my first bottle was a little bit off. This bottle was spot on, absolutely vibrant fruit, it felt like the wine was at peak and was absolutely singing. It had that typically luscious SLH fruit, gorgeous cherries, red berries, plum and a nice little hint of spice. This one had plush mouthfeel a very pretty finish.

Overall very sensuous and an utter pleasure to drink. Morgan typically makes very solid wine, and as far as the region goes they tend to be longer lasting than most. (26 views)
 Tasted by spidermark on 8/12/2022 & rated 87 points: I will start off by saying I am a big fan of Morgan wines. In particular their Pinot. Also their Lee Family grenache. However, this bottle did not show well. In general the Gary's is a short lived wine. Lucia Gary's and of course Kosta Browne might be the exception.

It had a decent nose. But, the mouth feel is not what one would expect. And there is a sourness that runs through it, with a very short finish. Not much balance. Not much there.

Could be a bad bottle? In retrospect it was a poor bottle. Not typical at all. (103 views)
 Tasted by johnnylaw1222 on 12/11/2019 & rated 88 points: Not uninteresting but not the most elegant Pinot. Quite astringent, with an odd, but interesting smoky element. (284 views)

Professional 'Channels'
By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Lucia Highlands (2/14/2019)
(Morgan Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard Red) Login and sign up and see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JebDunnuck.com. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Morgan

Producer website

Pinot Noir

Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.


Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.

Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.

The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.

Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.

With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.

Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.

Garys' Vineyard

Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands
Planted: 1997
Total Vineyard Acreage: 50 acres
Varietals: Pinot Noir, Syrah
Clone/ Rootstock: Pisoni Clone planted to 3309 and 5C
Exposure: Southeast
Trellising: VSP Bilateral
Spacing: 6x8 and 5x8
Vines per acre: 1089 and 908
Soils: Arroyo Seco Sandy loam
Climate: A marine climate highlighted by strong coastal winds blowing off Monterey bay make for foggy mornings, breezy afternoons and a long, drawn out growing season. Average summertime high temperatures are in the mid 70's.

The Garys’ Vineyard is a joint venture between two
native growers of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Gary
Pisoni and Gary Franscioni planted this 50-acre
vineyard to Pinot Noir and Syrah in 1997. Its location
on a sloping hillside in the center of the 16-mile long
appellation offers a true representation of the Santa
Lucia Highlands.

From Club Testarossa June 2013 tasting notes:

In the hierarchy of great California vineyards, it doesn't get much better than Garys' - the eponymous
collaboration of winegrowers Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni - one of the most famous estates on the
West Coast. The Wine Enthusiast designates Garys' vineyard as the closest vineyard to an "American Grand
Cru."

Just off of Highway 101 about 80 miles south of San Jose takes you to the heart of the Santa Lucia
Highlands Appellation - home to Garys' Vineyard. Owned jointly by the Pisoni and Franscioni families and
managed by Mark Pisoni and Gary Franscioni, this is one of the crown jewels for Pinot Noir collectors.
"We view our vineyard as multi-generational commitments to growing grapes that can produce the most
remarkable and balanced wines."

Testarossa has one of the longest running, closest relationships with the vineyard - the 2011 vintage marks
our thirteenth release from Garys' The Highlands close proximity to Monterey Bay's cool climate make for
one of California's longest growing seasons. The vineyard's sloping orientation on the southeast facing
bench on sandy, gravelly loam soils provides just the right mix of sun, wind, and fog. Testarossa's section of
Garys' Vineyard is three pristine acres of the famous "Pisoni Clone" Pinot Noir, originally planted in 1997.

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Central Coast

http://www.ccwinegrowers.org/links.html

http://www.discovercaliforniawines.com/regional-wine-organizations/

http://beveragetradenetwork.com/en/btn-academy/list-of-winegrowers-association-in-central-coast-california-274.htm

Central Coast AVA Wikipedia

Santa Lucia Highlands

Appellation: Wine Artisans of Santa Lucia Highlands | Winegeeks article
AVA Website

 
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