2011 Alfaro Family, Pinot Noir “Garys’ Vineyard” Santa Lucia Highlands.
Richard Alfaro has been getting Garys’ fruit for many years, along with grapes from Lester Family Deer Park and Schultze Family, these wines are now like an artist series in his lineup that compliments his great set of estate wines, though the Garys’ always seems a rare prize. I’m been following this wine since the beginning, and have always coveted it, but this 2011 might be one of the best yet with creamy richness and silky texture this full flavored Pinot is nothing short of excellent, and pure Garys’ with blackberry, plum, black cherry, tea leaf, briar, mocha, pepper and currant layers, in this deep hued beauty. At 14.5% it is neither shy or is it over the top, giving a hedonistic Pinot Noir nirvana with hints of smoky sweet French oak and subtle mineral notes with touch a little earthy essence, look for this wine to develop over the next few years in bottle, it might just get get even better, drink now through 2018, bravo.
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive