Steele Wines has worked with Pinot Noir from the Sangiacomo vineyards since its first vintage in 1991. Each year they choose the best lots and produce a single vineyard bottling in exceptional years. This blend is a beautiful and consistent expression of Pinot Noir: medium color and the pronounced aroma of Bing cherries and raspberries, combined with a silky, smooth structure, slight earthiness and mild tannin create perfect balance and a delicious, lingering finish.
Vineyards Notes
The Sangiacomo Vineyards are situated in many areas of southern Sonoma County in the area known as Carneros. For many years this was just grazing land, thought to be too cold for the production of fine quality wine grapes. To look at the land one would agree that grapes should not do well here: the heavy adobe clay soil and the lack of sun seemed to contradict the accepted viticultural wisdom. However, for varieties which do best in cooler conditions, especially Pinot Noir, this is the place. Since there are many different vineyard blocks, we keep each separate during fermentation and aging.
Food Pairings
Roast pheasant with a cherry and almond chutney, or with creamy polenta with mushrooms and eggplant.
It’s all about minimalism. At Steele we use standard, non-GMO yeasts, natural fermentations, and no extra additives or enzymes. During fermentation we gently pumpover, use inert gas to move the finished wines, and use gravity flow as much as possible. All of this ensures that we don’t bruise the wine during its time in the cellar, which helps retain fresh aromas and flavors in the finished wines. From handpicking grapes to gentle processing and bottling in our own facility, we make sure our grapes are cared for from vineyard to bottle. It’s all about a light hand in the winemaking to better highlight the aromas and flavors of the quality fruit we crush.
Our goal was never to be a huge winery. We bottle a lot of different varietals under four unique brands, but most of our wines are made in lots of fewer than 1,000 cases. This reflects my fascination with many diverse varietals and vineyard sites. And staying small means we can practice true craftmanship in the production of all of our wines.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Steele Carneros Pinot Noir 375ml - $21 = 18.10%
It’s been a long while since I’ve had some Pinot and this was a nice surprise when I opened up the box from Alice. I had the 375ml over 3 nights and each night made me question why I waited so long to go back to this.
The wine had hints of cherries and had just enough tannins and a nice balance of acidity. It finished nice and smooth with a hint of a very familiar candy that I couldn’t quite place. It was very easy and enjoyable to drink and I ended up picking up a sixer when the offer went live this morning.
I was apprehensive when I got the email from Alice that I had been selected to rat this week. Don’t get me wrong! I love getting surprise wine in the mail. But surprise wine in the mail during a tropical Florida summer was definitely a risk.
The bottle arrived late afternoon on Tuesday. I opened the box immediately and my heart sank. The bottle was very warm to the touch. I put it on the kitchen counter where the AC could gently flow over it, and decided to hope for the best.
I waited until Thursday to open the bottle, hoping a little rest would do it some good. I’ve been a fan of Jed Steele wines for years, but I don’t believe I’ve had the Carneros Pinot Noir before. I shared the bottle between myself and a wine friend who is also a Steele fan.
Right away I was impressed with the clarity and gleaming garnet color of the wine in the glass. It’s a beautiful wine.
Hesitantly, I sniffed the glass. It smelled good! I began to raise my expectations. The nose held tobacco, strawberry, blackberry, black plum, minerality and a dark, raw cacao note.
I took a sip and was greatly relieved. It wasn’t cooked! It was a miracle! First taste, right after opening, was very good. Rich with tobacco tannins and dark fruits. It’s a very robust, full-flavor pinot noir.
I let the wine sit in the glass for over 30 minutes and the flavor and nose opened even more. The flavor mellowed and softened from the first taste. It developed nearly caramel-Coca-Cola like notes (but without the sticky sweetness of Coke) and included warming spices like cinnamon, 5-spice, and clove. The tobacco remained on the finish. The front continued to offer fruit notes of raspberries and plums.
My friend and I both really enjoyed this wine. It’s an excellent sipper, though not a traditionally flavored pinot noir. I guessed it was a $10 value for the half-bottle size, so I think the price point on Casemates today makes this a great buy. I think I am going to roll the dice again and order a case.
@rjquillin LOL I know it’s bad. My husband broke all of my Riedel crystal wine glasses during the first year of our marriage. I have compromised my wine drinking with Sur La Table plasticware. It’s my burden to bear.
@gemeinschaft79@kaolis I purposefully buy the orphans from broken multi packs at Marshalls/TJMaxx/etc so that way when I lose one I don’t feel bad for the rest of its glass family. I also invest in silicone wine glasses that travel well.
At work we have a ‘free’ table where all sorts of items appear, and vaporize; including some orphaned glassware I’ve added.
It’s all good, as long as bottles in my office don’t go with the glass…
I have had several bottlings from Steele and have been pretty impressed with all of them, for the price point especially. Have not had this wine but I’m tempted to snag some.
2017 Steele Carneros Pinot Noir 375ml
Tasting Notes
Vineyards Notes
Food Pairings
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $180/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, RI, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Sep 13 - Thursday, Sep 16
Steele Carneros Pinot Noir 375ml
6 bottles for $57.99 $9.67/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $94.99 $7.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2017 Steele Carneros Pinot Noir 375ml
/giphy heated-bony-gravy
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2017 Steele Carneros Pinot Noir 375ml - $21 = 18.10%
Hello!
It’s been a long while since I’ve had some Pinot and this was a nice surprise when I opened up the box from Alice. I had the 375ml over 3 nights and each night made me question why I waited so long to go back to this.
The wine had hints of cherries and had just enough tannins and a nice balance of acidity. It finished nice and smooth with a hint of a very familiar candy that I couldn’t quite place. It was very easy and enjoyable to drink and I ended up picking up a sixer when the offer went live this morning.
@opus300zx Thank you for the rattage.
@opus300zx Thanks for the review and I’m impressed you were able to stretch a half bottle over 3 nights.
I was apprehensive when I got the email from Alice that I had been selected to rat this week. Don’t get me wrong! I love getting surprise wine in the mail. But surprise wine in the mail during a tropical Florida summer was definitely a risk.
The bottle arrived late afternoon on Tuesday. I opened the box immediately and my heart sank. The bottle was very warm to the touch. I put it on the kitchen counter where the AC could gently flow over it, and decided to hope for the best.
I waited until Thursday to open the bottle, hoping a little rest would do it some good. I’ve been a fan of Jed Steele wines for years, but I don’t believe I’ve had the Carneros Pinot Noir before. I shared the bottle between myself and a wine friend who is also a Steele fan.
Right away I was impressed with the clarity and gleaming garnet color of the wine in the glass. It’s a beautiful wine.
Hesitantly, I sniffed the glass. It smelled good! I began to raise my expectations. The nose held tobacco, strawberry, blackberry, black plum, minerality and a dark, raw cacao note.
I took a sip and was greatly relieved. It wasn’t cooked! It was a miracle! First taste, right after opening, was very good. Rich with tobacco tannins and dark fruits. It’s a very robust, full-flavor pinot noir.
I let the wine sit in the glass for over 30 minutes and the flavor and nose opened even more. The flavor mellowed and softened from the first taste. It developed nearly caramel-Coca-Cola like notes (but without the sticky sweetness of Coke) and included warming spices like cinnamon, 5-spice, and clove. The tobacco remained on the finish. The front continued to offer fruit notes of raspberries and plums.
My friend and I both really enjoyed this wine. It’s an excellent sipper, though not a traditionally flavored pinot noir. I guessed it was a $10 value for the half-bottle size, so I think the price point on Casemates today makes this a great buy. I think I am going to roll the dice again and order a case.
@gemeinschaft79
Not to be (too) snarky, but with that glass how could you tell?
@gemeinschaft79 thank you for the report. love the color of the wine in the glass
@rjquillin LOL I know it’s bad. My husband broke all of my Riedel crystal wine glasses during the first year of our marriage. I have compromised my wine drinking with Sur La Table plasticware. It’s my burden to bear.
@gemeinschaft79
Time to trade him in on a new model.
@rjquillin Harsh! He has good qualities too! Just a bit of a bull in a china shop. Now he’s a bull in a plastic shop
@gemeinschaft79
Yeah, me bad; forgot the
@gemeinschaft79 Way more glasses than I know what to do with anymore. Might have to send you a care package, just keep The Bull out of the shop!!
Thanks @kaolis. He’s banned from touching the glassware
@gemeinschaft79 @kaolis I purposefully buy the orphans from broken multi packs at Marshalls/TJMaxx/etc so that way when I lose one I don’t feel bad for the rest of its glass family. I also invest in silicone wine glasses that travel well.
@gemeinschaft79 @kaolis
At this point, what glassware, it’s all plastic.
At work we have a ‘free’ table where all sorts of items appear, and vaporize; including some orphaned glassware I’ve added.
It’s all good, as long as bottles in my office don’t go with the glass…
/giphy fatty-vague-bite
I hope these bottles make it to Florida as well as the Rat one did!
I have had several bottlings from Steele and have been pretty impressed with all of them, for the price point especially. Have not had this wine but I’m tempted to snag some.
Had a Steele Syrah at Angus Barn last night (2016). It was very very good with their fabulous meats.
/giphy aged-icy-candy
Meh, $300 bills this week… so what.
/giphy snarky-breezy-ginger
/giphy noxious-unbeatable-decision
