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The wine-growing regions of Mendocino remain rural, rugged, and hard to reach compared to Napa Valley or Sonoma County. Small towns, dense forests, ranch and farmlands have changed little over the decades. And while more vineyards dot the hillsides, tasting rooms and tourist facilities are few and far between. Winegrowing in the Anderson Valley is blessed by a cool climate that allows Pinot Noir to develop wonderful aromatics and bright fruit flavors. The 2021 received 90 points from the Wine Enthusiast, which called it “a well-balanced Pinot Noir with a high glug-ability factor and a great bang-for-the-buck value.” It’s a wine that aims to please with strawberries, violets, forest floor, black cherry, pomegranate and savory herbs. Lamb, chicken, salmon and light pasta dishes will all pair well with this wine.
Producing low-priced wine is not difficult in California – as long as one uses undistinguished central valley grapes. Yet Castle Rock Winery sells premium, handcrafted wines from the best appellations in California, Oregon and Washington at prices that match those wines labeled “California.” Castle Rock Winery’s secret to providing “appellation wines at affordable prices” is to operate as a kind of “virtual winery,” owning neither its own vineyards nor a winery. Instead it maintains close, long-term relationships with around forty growers in such areas as Monterey County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Willamette Valley and Colombia Valley and leases state-of-the-art winemaking facilities in all three states. Winemaker August "Joe" Briggs works closely with the growers to ensure they produce the best quality fruit while overseeing the winemaking at the same time. This unique method of operating allows Castle Rock to avoid the “money pits” of land and fancy buildings that sink many wineries and focus everything on securing the best grapes and crafting delicious wines. Since the beginning in 1994, Castle Rock has focused particularly on Pinot Noir, making distinct bottlings from such key Pinot districts as Carneros, Russian River Valley and Willamette Valley. However, over the years the winery has also branched out into other popular varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Riesling. Though an oft-repeated wine country adage goes, “it takes a fortune to make a small fortune in the wine business,” Castle Rock Winery has shown there is a way to make captivating wines for the discerning drinker without deep pockets.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Mendocino County |
| Winery | Castle Rock |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Color | Red |
| Varietal(s) | Pinot Noir |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.0 x 29.5 |
| Case Size | 34.0 x 25.5 x 30.5 |
| Alcohol | 14.5% |
| Product Code | CA21MEP |
| UPC | 083837006100 |
90 points - Wine Enthusiast.
Garnet red and medium-bodied, the wine starts with violets, black cherry, autumn leaves and vanilla spice and evolves into layers of silky strawberry, raspberry, spice and earthy notes. A supple texture and smooth tannins round out the finish.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks.