The Green Valley Road Vineyard has been a corner stone of the Karmen Isabella blend. This section of the vineyard has been known in the cellar as the ‘Dark Horse’ and “Wow Juice”.We regularly taste and evaluate vineyards and blocks for inclusion in blends or as stand alone expressions of great fruit and distinctive Terroir.
Experienced the elegant side of Pinot Noir with fruit from our Jewell Vineyard, a true gem. This limited production wine is made in the old-world style with more earthiness apparent from start to finish. The nose is consistently bright bouquet of bing cherry, lavender, and plum blossoms. Aromatically complex and simultaneously delicate, the flavors that exude are Portobello mushroom, damp forest floor, orange coated with Baker’s dark chocolate, and hints of clove and allspice.
This svelte and complex wine is defined as the “Big Brother” of our Pinot Noirs. Coming from a winery with a “Sisters’ Collection” of wines that says a lot! It definitely holds its own and lets its distinctive voice be heard…and tasted. Tracy Dutton has consistently noted the particular aromas, of the red cherries from this distinctive vineyard.
Lucky for us, behind every amazing vineyard that we farm comes an equally deep story from our multi-generational family history. The La Familia Pinot Noir is no exception. It is about neighbors and friends. Families and farming. Treating people with respect and tending to Mother Nature. His committment over time has rewarded us with a wine that is focused and pristine. The Pommard clone on this vineyard lends many dark fruit qualities ot the wine. This clone consistently produces small berries and clusters with concentrated fruit flavors.
The Manzana Vineyard always brings us an expressive sark fruit that tantalizes our taste buds and often is a key component of the Karmen Isabella Pinot Noir blend. The consistent, deep crimson color provides the prelude to the bright fruit aromas that taste and unfold in this wine. Complex layers mid-palate of forest floor, pine needles, and subtle tannins. There’s also a sweet, light tobacco melded with French vanilla from the varying degrees of toastiness in the oak barrels that harmonize into a well-structured, almost chewy, body. Manzana represents classic cool climate pinot Noir: it can be served now or cellared for five to eight years.
In the glass the Karmen Isabella attracts the eye with reflective garnet and brilliant purple hues. The nose is full of fresh crushed red and black berry fruits, light oak with earthy-dusty-clay nuances. On the palate the wine has a juicy, supple, mouth filling texture. Flavors of crisp, ripe black cherry/berry fruit abound with charming rose and persimmon notes. Dark fruits permeate the finish with subtle integrated oak. It is a lovely wine that evolves for several days revealing a range of aromatic complexities of rose, black tea leaf and citrus peel.
There’s a sweet, light tobacco essence along with French vanilla from the varying degrees of toastiness in the oak barrels that harmonize into a well-structured, almost chewy, body.
94 Points - Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate
90 Points - "Very Highly Recommended" – California Grapevine
