2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
Tasting Notes
Unmistakably varietally correct and on point. Beautifully balanced by freshness, bright acidity, savory floral, notes of bougainvillea and rose petals, cinnamon stick, and five spice.
Secondary fruit offers rhubarb and sour cherry, along with anise seed and sassafras. Wet cobblestone and dolomitic limestone show the providence of location in minerality. Light and balanced, but showing on the entry and mid palate with a tremendous lingering finish that goes on and on.
Alta Maria Vineyards was established in 2005 by James Ontiveros who also owns Ranchos de Ontiveros, featuring estate-sourced, single-site, single-vineyard wine. His Native9 Pinot Noir represents the ninth generation of the Ontiveros family in California, going back to a 1781 land grant within the pueblo of Los Angeles. The family’s roots trace back to La Rioja in Old Spain in the 1500s. Eventually, James’ fifth great-grandfather, Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, and his wife, Doña Martina, moved their extensive farming operation north to Santa Barbara County in search of water and more land. They settled in what would become the town of Santa Maria. While James’ estate wines are crafted with an old-world approach, Alta Maria wines celebrate the fruit of the appellation. They are light, fresh, and savory. The name Alta means high or elevated and exudes a refined aura that, like fine wine, will age well. The name Maria is an homage to the ancestors of James Ontiveros who left a legacy of love for the lush Santa Maria River valley.
Alta Maria sources high-quality Pinot Noir grapes from three iconic vineyards; Nielson, Costa de Oro, and Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards.
James Ontiveros and his team oversee every aspect of the winemaking process.
Sustainable Farming is used.
The vines are a mix of older and newer plantings and clones.
An absolute gem of subtlety and class, reminding us of what elegant Pinot Nair can provide!
Specs
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County
Elaboration: The wines were fermented in small batches, of which about 15% was whole cluster fermented, then pressed, racked, and aged 8 months in French oak.
Alcohol: 12.9%
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley Case:
12x 2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $540/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Alta Maria Vineyards
Owner: James Ontiveros
Founded: 2005
Location: Santa Maria Valley, California
Alta Maria was conceived as a place for collaboration, exploration, and growth outside of our family-controlled Estate Vineyards. The name Alta Maria is a tribute to two things that are real and have deep, direct connection. Alta California has been home to my family since 1781. Specifically, the Santa Maria Valley has been our home since 1855. The Ontiveros farming and ranching family is now 10 generations strong. Alta Maria is family owned, we are farmers first, vineyard focused. Our fruit sourcing has expanded, as our proprietary vineyards have, throughout Santa Barbara County through many friends & partnerships. We bring vast experience from our vineyards to the bottle.
Collaboration has always been a component of our story. James’ first partner and college friend, Paul Wilkins, was the former assistant winemaker of Alban Winery, and they were continuously drawn to the quiet treasures of the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Barbara County. Later, James partnered with the Murphy family, whose interest in the area brought them to their project Presqu’ile Winery, just down the road from James’ home ranch. Other partners included the Miller Family the Wagner Family. Collaboration has always been a component of our growth, and we continue to nurture relationships with our industry peers who share a passion for our goal of expressive and approachable wines. The wines are farmed by James Ontiveros and crafted by winemaker, Chris Brown.
The artwork for Alta Maria Vineyards features hand-hewn iron nails used by homesteaders in Santa Maria before the Industrial Revolution introduced mass-produced, machine-cut nails. Despite its lowly function, each nail is unique from the next according the to the conditions in which it was made and the expertise of the craftsman.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@rjquillin@ttboy23 Wondering where the wine has been stored…the winery appears to be closed, last vintage 2015?..but wait, there are 2021 wines floating around a few retailers??
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir - $50 = 22.72%
@hscottk
If you click on the drinking window in CT and scroll down, you can see how many people contributed to the estimate (in this case, one) and add your own input if so inclined.
@chipgreen@hscottk@kaolis
Yes, one
And of the consumed bottles listed by the four that entered in consumption, three were in 2019, one in 2018.
Unable to determine which user added the drink-by comment.
@chipgreen@hscottk@kaolis@rjquillin I find CT drinking windows to be mostly useless. Much of what I drink is beyond the window but still improving. Last night’s 2011 Pinot, for example, had a drink by of 2019 or something but it was singing.
This sounds like it should be up my alley but I’m not allowed to buy.
@kaolis@klezman@rjquillin Agree that some are useless but I think there is value added there. The details matter, like what @chipgreen mentioned about # of estimates. For example, the 2010 Virage has a 2018-25 window based on 8 different inputs. I had one a month ago and think that’s probably pretty close. I take it as a one data point of many. It’s definitely not gospel, but has helped at times in answering the age old question of when it’s time….
@hscottk As a general matter I don’t take CT drinking windows very seriously. Most of the reviewers posting them have never tasted wines through their life cycle and have no idea whatsoever how wines will develop and age.
@rpm I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. I think the same could be said of CT scores, but I still check them. Drink by windows and scores are subjective, so there will never be a definitive answer to these questions. And I’ll always take feedback from a trusted palate over a crowdsourced CT number. But that’s not always available, and in those instances I’ll take what I can get
@hscottk@rpm agreed most don’t know how a wine evolves. Had a 2011 Pinot the other night that CT people said was dead and way past prime. Couldn’t have been father from the truth.
One thing I do look at, though, is what percentage of bottles of the wine have been consumed.
This as a short one, as my wife and I came down with COVID the day after tasting, but my wife was particularly excited as she is a big Pinot fan!
Overall, it was a nice wine. A bit tart for a Pinot, but flavor profile was tart sour cherry and a little peppery.
Didn’t feel like it’s age has started to affect it negatively. I would probably not plan to cellar it, but I’d be happy to pick up some of this at the $15 price.
Where is Wes Hagen? He handles marketing for Native 9 . . . And they are indeed back, along with Alta Maria, another label associated with the same folks . . .
Pulled a cork on one of these perhaps a couple of weeks ago and stored the remaining ~375ml or so in a standard fridge with no Ar. At PnP I seem to recall it wasn’t all that clear but otherwise was uncompromised. Using the DeLong clarity scale of clear/slight haze/cloudy perhaps between the latter two, with acidity somewhere between tart and crisp that enjoyable and went well with food but not so well as a cocktail.
Forward to today and there was a marked increase in both tartness and decrease in clarity that almost approached turbid. What I observed was not stirred sediment, but something that remained in solution. Overall taste/flavor/quality seemed to have had a steep decline as well; suggesting to me PnP and drain the bottle in a single setting.
Reading a bit on what may have contributed to the perceived diminishment of clarity (what there was to begin with didn’t provide a clear answer; perhaps some heat instability. It didn’t seem oxidized or the result of some undesirable microbial contamination; it just kind of fell apart.
I’d be interesting in the findings/observations of others.
Perhaps this was just an ‘off’ bottle, as I’ve only popped one.
2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $540/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Aug 26 - Wednesday, Aug 28
2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $169.99 $14.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
A 10 year old PN; this could be interesting
@rjquillin “An absolute gem of subtlety and class, reminding us of what elegant Pinot Nair can provide!”
@rjquillin @ttboy23 Wondering where the wine has been stored…the winery appears to be closed, last vintage 2015?..but wait, there are 2021 wines floating around a few retailers??
@kaolis Native9 / Ranchos De Ontiveros is ongoing…so I suppose these could be “library” wines from the source?
@ttboy23 I’m good with my leg hair, thanks.
@rjquillin @ttboy23
I won’t ask about short shorts.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2014 Alta Maria Vineyards Rancho Viñedo Pinot Noir - $50 = 22.72%
CT drinking window ended 7 years ago lol. I’m guessing that’s wrong, but rats would be great to see how much life is left here.
@hscottk exactly…I’m trolling around waiting to hear, with my finger on the button
@hscottk @ttboy23 Not sure if there was a regular bottling and this one in 2014 but reviews for 2014 Santa Maria Valley are kind of eh and drink soon
@hscottk @kaolis @ttboy23
@hscottk
If you click on the drinking window in CT and scroll down, you can see how many people contributed to the estimate (in this case, one) and add your own input if so inclined.
@chipgreen @hscottk @kaolis
Yes, one
And of the consumed bottles listed by the four that entered in consumption, three were in 2019, one in 2018.
Unable to determine which user added the drink-by comment.
@chipgreen @hscottk @kaolis @rjquillin I find CT drinking windows to be mostly useless. Much of what I drink is beyond the window but still improving. Last night’s 2011 Pinot, for example, had a drink by of 2019 or something but it was singing.
This sounds like it should be up my alley but I’m not allowed to buy.
@kaolis @klezman @rjquillin Agree that some are useless but I think there is value added there. The details matter, like what @chipgreen mentioned about # of estimates. For example, the 2010 Virage has a 2018-25 window based on 8 different inputs. I had one a month ago and think that’s probably pretty close. I take it as a one data point of many. It’s definitely not gospel, but has helped at times in answering the age old question of when it’s time….
@hscottk As a general matter I don’t take CT drinking windows very seriously. Most of the reviewers posting them have never tasted wines through their life cycle and have no idea whatsoever how wines will develop and age.
@rpm I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said. I think the same could be said of CT scores, but I still check them. Drink by windows and scores are subjective, so there will never be a definitive answer to these questions. And I’ll always take feedback from a trusted palate over a crowdsourced CT number. But that’s not always available, and in those instances I’ll take what I can get
@hscottk @rpm agreed most don’t know how a wine evolves. Had a 2011 Pinot the other night that CT people said was dead and way past prime. Couldn’t have been father from the truth.
One thing I do look at, though, is what percentage of bottles of the wine have been consumed.
This as a short one, as my wife and I came down with COVID the day after tasting, but my wife was particularly excited as she is a big Pinot fan!
Overall, it was a nice wine. A bit tart for a Pinot, but flavor profile was tart sour cherry and a little peppery.
Didn’t feel like it’s age has started to affect it negatively. I would probably not plan to cellar it, but I’d be happy to pick up some of this at the $15 price.
@larsrulz Best wishes on your recovery.
Where is Wes Hagen? He handles marketing for Native 9 . . . And they are indeed back, along with Alta Maria, another label associated with the same folks . . .
What does bougainvillea taste like?
@Kyeh It tastes like a Pinot Noir that someone forgot about for ten years.
Ordered 3 bottles - some wonderful notes might have sent me to a case. Just never see wine under 13% these days and will trust in wd&co.
@canonizer @winedavid59
or a bit or winery participation
Shoulda ordered a case
Extended TN from memory and recent consumption…
Pulled a cork on one of these perhaps a couple of weeks ago and stored the remaining ~375ml or so in a standard fridge with no Ar. At PnP I seem to recall it wasn’t all that clear but otherwise was uncompromised. Using the DeLong clarity scale of clear/slight haze/cloudy perhaps between the latter two, with acidity somewhere between tart and crisp that enjoyable and went well with food but not so well as a cocktail.
Forward to today and there was a marked increase in both tartness and decrease in clarity that almost approached turbid. What I observed was not stirred sediment, but something that remained in solution. Overall taste/flavor/quality seemed to have had a steep decline as well; suggesting to me PnP and drain the bottle in a single setting.
Reading a bit on what may have contributed to the perceived diminishment of clarity (what there was to begin with didn’t provide a clear answer; perhaps some heat instability. It didn’t seem oxidized or the result of some undesirable microbial contamination; it just kind of fell apart.
I’d be interesting in the findings/observations of others.
Perhaps this was just an ‘off’ bottle, as I’ve only popped one.