The other day I had an interesting discussion with someone I frequently taste with about Pinot. I had opened a bottle of 2002 Lorca Gary’s Vineyard. It was a very big Pinot Noir. It seemed to have entered (this bottle anyway) a prime drinking window. Conventional wisdom suggests an 8 year maximum to age Pinot. I am not sure I agree with that anymore. California makes some big Pinot’s. I believe with modern wine making techniques and ripe grapes Cali Pinot, can do well with a longer aging window, especially the Santa Lucia Highlands. The Lorca I had was still vibrant. In my opinion this wine can go another 2 years in my cellar.
Now some people are shying away from the high alcohol, fruit forward Pinot bombs coming out of California. I am not one of those. As long as the wine is balanced, I say let nature take it’s course. Is this expression of the varietal grown in Cali not part of it’s terroir? I would argue yes. Is it not easy to differentiate a classic Oregon Pinot (which I also enjoy) and a Cali Pinot? Again, the answer is yes.
Remember, wine is what you like. Discovery is part of the magic. I still have several bottles of the 2002 Lorca Gary’s Vineyard and look forward to see how well it will age over the 8 year mark, as I will with other Pinot’s in my cellar. But then this brings me to the question, do I want to risk over aging my Kosta Browne’s? Another topic for another time.
Sounds like a yummy Pinot. I’ll take a case!