Our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a blend of Pinots from several specially selected vineyards. It amply demonstrates all the characteristics that have made this wine region world famous for its Pinot Noirs.
The robe of our 2016 is a lovely garnet red. The gorgeous aromas express ripe cherry and red berries with accents of toasty oak. On the palate, the flavors reflect the aromas: red fruits and spice with a fresh, crisp finish. Our 2016 SLH Pinot Noir is deliciously drinkable!
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
The Santa Lucia Highlands have long been a focus for us at Bernardus as we recognized early on the phenomenal potential of this great region. We have been producing small vineyard-designate bottlings from several of our favorite vineyards for many years. Recently, we have increased our vineyard selections and felt the time was right to bottle our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir.
At Bernardus, all our Pinot Noir grapes are hand-picked, sorted and fermented in small, individual batches. They are then aged in the finest oak barrels until final blending, just before bottling.
Specifications
Vintage: 2016
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands
Vineyards: Tondre, Highlands, K W, Ingrid’s
Cooperage: Aged for 10 months; 33% new; Sirugue, Billon, Kadar.
Winery: Bernardus Winery
Owner: Ben Pon
Location: Carmel Valley, CA
Widely traveled and endowed with impeccable taste, Ben Pon could have chosen anywhere in the world to establish his namesake Bernardus Winery, with the intention of cultivating premier class wines. He selected Carmel Valley, with its west-facing orientation, hot days and chilly nights, and stunning beauty, confident his vineyards there could produce wines to rival the greatest on the globe. More than a quarter-century later, he’s accomplished that not only with his estate Bordeaux blend, called Marinus (after his middle name), but with a powerhouse portfolio of single-vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Bernardus team’s attention to detail, high standards and passion for making stellar wine ensure every bottle of Marinus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc offers the chance to “Taste a Dream,” as Mr. Pon envisioned decades ago — and still does today.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
4 bottles for $99.99 $25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $229.99 $19.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir - $70 = 23.32%
I feel like this is casemates Christmas for me. My Scott Harvey magnums are arriving tomorrow and Anne Amie on Friday. When the fed ex man knocked on the door I was quite surprised; I got the golden ticket for this offer!
Sockeye salmon was already planned for dinner. I will report later. Thank you Ariana, WD, and Bernardus.
Checking in from Iowa, just received my golden ticket in a box, about 15 minutes ago. I’m excited, Pinot Nior is probably in the top five of my favorite wines… Wife will be home shortly, then a cheese appetizer and wine, followed up with a BBQ Ribeye with the rest of the bottle… will be back in a few hours… winecaseaholic, (aka winewootaholic from the old days…) thanks WD, Ariana & Bernardus (no tornadoes around today)
I had a magnum of the 2015 vintage that we drank a few months ago over dinner with friends. I didn’t take notes, but I remember liking it, the wine getting better the longer it was open, and it having a fair amount of complexity and a light, proper Pinot structure. It was very enjoyable and fairly easy drinking. Good wine, curious about the rats on this vintage.
Also can’t wait to here from rat’s. Did wine tasting in Carmel 2 years in a row after Big Sur marathon few years ago & this was a favorite winery. Joined 2 other wine clubs (Dawn’s Dream & Parsonage) from there but was a hard choice. SLH my favorite for pinots!
Crystal-clear ruby color. For a split second, I thought there were no legs, because the wine clings to the glass that long. I do not get detect alcohol or that similar hot sensation, even without any decanting/aeration.
I tend to like earthy, mushroom, whatever-they-call it aromas in a pinot, and this does not have those. That isn’t a bad thing, but it is surely not an earthy forest-floor pinot. It is all about the fruit. It has a floral cherry quality, but also a darker stone fruits. Berries and barrels; I can detect the oak, but it is not overpowering. I get eucalyptus/menthol background that gives it more of a symphony quality versus a single instrument.
First sip was surprisingly tart. Perhaps I was trying too hard to find aromas that weren’t fruity, but it smacked me back to paying attention to what this wine is about. Stone fruits. The tartness fades to a nice rich roundness. I don’t know what is the average time for a Santa Lucia Pinot to come together, but it drinks like a mature integrated wine. Pop and pour, this seemed like it had been open for a few hours. I am not sure how this speaks to longevity, but it is really good right now.
I really love the mouth-feel. The tannins fall below chewy, but enough to make me excited to pair it with food.
I also gave my neighbor, a wine broker (who shall remain unnamed until I finally turn him to casemates, but that is kind of counter to his gig, I suppose.) a glass to ask for his impression. “Classic, clean, SLH pinot.” “This is drinking wonderfully. 2-3 years, maybe, very good.” “What is the price? ‘100 for 4 bottles’ That is great.”
I will report more after dinner, and after giving my parents the rest of the bottle tomorrow, but seeing as how the reports are time sensitive, this is where I am at right now. This isn’t my typical style, but I cannot find any flaw for the price and would be amazed if anyone didn’t like this if served to a crowd. It is flavorful, enough complexity, perfect mouthfeel, and a very nice wine. Thanks again for the opportunity.
@KNmeh7 Perfect, thanks. The stylistic comments are exactly how I decide on most wines. Our Pinot palates are aligned.
(And I’m glad this wasn’t my style preference because I need to drink down the pile!)
Ok, we finished the bottle with our BBQ Ribeye, tried drinking it with an appetizer of Brie cheese, apparently those labels they put on food products “best by date” should be obeyed. So no cheese on National cheese day. However, it went very good with our meal, or as my wife (Cynthia) said several times…Great…
Since we had opened it about 90 minutes before the meal it had really mellowed out and was very smooth. We notice some legs on the glass, but they took a few (maybe 5)seconds to form. I kept trying to compare it to a P.N. I had on Saturday night at a wedding, no comparison, this is so much better, Cherries, and berries, in such a wonderful blend.
While we had it with a marinated steak, it would go with a spicy Asian dish, light Italian meal, and a afternoon cheese and crackers snack under the shade tree on the lawn. Suggest a Brie cheese, but watch that “best by date.” …lol, Now about buying it? Well, even though we have cases in the cellar of other wines, have not much money in the checking account, (partially due to WD). And the wine that is still in the “on it’s way to Iowa” pipeline, we will be adding another case to our collection.
It really is everything the winery says it is, and more.
In for a case. Good price. A co-worker of mine has a friend that has a house right across the street from Bernardus. He goes up there a couple of times a year and sometimes brings me a bottle. Good stuff to be sure.
Tasting Notes
Our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a blend of Pinots from several specially selected vineyards. It amply demonstrates all the characteristics that have made this wine region world famous for its Pinot Noirs.
The robe of our 2016 is a lovely garnet red. The gorgeous aromas express ripe cherry and red berries with accents of toasty oak. On the palate, the flavors reflect the aromas: red fruits and spice with a fresh, crisp finish. Our 2016 SLH Pinot Noir is deliciously drinkable!
Vintage and Winemaker Notes
The Santa Lucia Highlands have long been a focus for us at Bernardus as we recognized early on the phenomenal potential of this great region. We have been producing small vineyard-designate bottlings from several of our favorite vineyards for many years. Recently, we have increased our vineyard selections and felt the time was right to bottle our Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir.
At Bernardus, all our Pinot Noir grapes are hand-picked, sorted and fermented in small, individual batches. They are then aged in the finest oak barrels until final blending, just before bottling.
Specifications
Price Comparison
$556.75/case (including shipping) at Bernardus Winery
About The Winery
Winery: Bernardus Winery
Owner: Ben Pon
Location: Carmel Valley, CA
Widely traveled and endowed with impeccable taste, Ben Pon could have chosen anywhere in the world to establish his namesake Bernardus Winery, with the intention of cultivating premier class wines. He selected Carmel Valley, with its west-facing orientation, hot days and chilly nights, and stunning beauty, confident his vineyards there could produce wines to rival the greatest on the globe. More than a quarter-century later, he’s accomplished that not only with his estate Bordeaux blend, called Marinus (after his middle name), but with a powerhouse portfolio of single-vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Bernardus team’s attention to detail, high standards and passion for making stellar wine ensure every bottle of Marinus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc offers the chance to “Taste a Dream,” as Mr. Pon envisioned decades ago — and still does today.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, June 27th - Monday, July 1st
Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
4 bottles for $99.99 $25/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $229.99 $19.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir - $70 = 23.32%
Might get in on this - Santa Lucia highlands is my favorite source for Pinots and Chardonnays
I feel like this is casemates Christmas for me. My Scott Harvey magnums are arriving tomorrow and Anne Amie on Friday. When the fed ex man knocked on the door I was quite surprised; I got the golden ticket for this offer!
Sockeye salmon was already planned for dinner. I will report later. Thank you Ariana, WD, and Bernardus.
Checking in from Iowa, just received my golden ticket in a box, about 15 minutes ago. I’m excited, Pinot Nior is probably in the top five of my favorite wines… Wife will be home shortly, then a cheese appetizer and wine, followed up with a BBQ Ribeye with the rest of the bottle… will be back in a few hours… winecaseaholic, (aka winewootaholic from the old days…) thanks WD, Ariana & Bernardus (no tornadoes around today)
I had a magnum of the 2015 vintage that we drank a few months ago over dinner with friends. I didn’t take notes, but I remember liking it, the wine getting better the longer it was open, and it having a fair amount of complexity and a light, proper Pinot structure. It was very enjoyable and fairly easy drinking. Good wine, curious about the rats on this vintage.
Also can’t wait to here from rat’s. Did wine tasting in Carmel 2 years in a row after Big Sur marathon few years ago & this was a favorite winery. Joined 2 other wine clubs (Dawn’s Dream & Parsonage) from there but was a hard choice. SLH my favorite for pinots!
Crystal-clear ruby color. For a split second, I thought there were no legs, because the wine clings to the glass that long. I do not get detect alcohol or that similar hot sensation, even without any decanting/aeration.
I tend to like earthy, mushroom, whatever-they-call it aromas in a pinot, and this does not have those. That isn’t a bad thing, but it is surely not an earthy forest-floor pinot. It is all about the fruit. It has a floral cherry quality, but also a darker stone fruits. Berries and barrels; I can detect the oak, but it is not overpowering. I get eucalyptus/menthol background that gives it more of a symphony quality versus a single instrument.
First sip was surprisingly tart. Perhaps I was trying too hard to find aromas that weren’t fruity, but it smacked me back to paying attention to what this wine is about. Stone fruits. The tartness fades to a nice rich roundness. I don’t know what is the average time for a Santa Lucia Pinot to come together, but it drinks like a mature integrated wine. Pop and pour, this seemed like it had been open for a few hours. I am not sure how this speaks to longevity, but it is really good right now.
I really love the mouth-feel. The tannins fall below chewy, but enough to make me excited to pair it with food.
I also gave my neighbor, a wine broker (who shall remain unnamed until I finally turn him to casemates, but that is kind of counter to his gig, I suppose.) a glass to ask for his impression. “Classic, clean, SLH pinot.” “This is drinking wonderfully. 2-3 years, maybe, very good.” “What is the price? ‘100 for 4 bottles’ That is great.”
I will report more after dinner, and after giving my parents the rest of the bottle tomorrow, but seeing as how the reports are time sensitive, this is where I am at right now. This isn’t my typical style, but I cannot find any flaw for the price and would be amazed if anyone didn’t like this if served to a crowd. It is flavorful, enough complexity, perfect mouthfeel, and a very nice wine. Thanks again for the opportunity.
@KNmeh7 Perfect, thanks. The stylistic comments are exactly how I decide on most wines. Our Pinot palates are aligned.
(And I’m glad this wasn’t my style preference because I need to drink down the pile!)
Thank you to our Lab Rats for pulling through on a couple of last minute bottles!
Ok, we finished the bottle with our BBQ Ribeye, tried drinking it with an appetizer of Brie cheese, apparently those labels they put on food products “best by date” should be obeyed. So no cheese on National cheese day. However, it went very good with our meal, or as my wife (Cynthia) said several times…Great…
Since we had opened it about 90 minutes before the meal it had really mellowed out and was very smooth. We notice some legs on the glass, but they took a few (maybe 5)seconds to form. I kept trying to compare it to a P.N. I had on Saturday night at a wedding, no comparison, this is so much better, Cherries, and berries, in such a wonderful blend.
While we had it with a marinated steak, it would go with a spicy Asian dish, light Italian meal, and a afternoon cheese and crackers snack under the shade tree on the lawn. Suggest a Brie cheese, but watch that “best by date.” …lol, Now about buying it? Well, even though we have cases in the cellar of other wines, have not much money in the checking account, (partially due to WD). And the wine that is still in the “on it’s way to Iowa” pipeline, we will be adding another case to our collection.
It really is everything the winery says it is, and more.
Thanks for the notes guys!
I’ve enjoyed Bernardus pinots in the past.
In for a case. Good price. A co-worker of mine has a friend that has a house right across the street from Bernardus. He goes up there a couple of times a year and sometimes brings me a bottle. Good stuff to be sure.