From a tiny 3.5-acre plot in the Sta. Rita Hills that's southwest facing and battered by the incessant winds of the region, the 2013 Pinot Noir Memorious is the last to be harvested and, according to Sashi, tends to be more burly and structured due to its think skins. It has the classic Domaine de la Cote bouquet of rose petal, salt block, underbrush and strawberries to go with a medium-bodied, layered and pretty style on the palate. The acidity is nicely integrated, it has plenty of fruit through the mid-palate and a clean finish. Already drinking nicely, it should evolve nicely through 2021.I had a great tasting with Domaine de la Cote's winemaker Sashi Moorman. While I found all of the wines to be outstanding, they had an unusual mix of cool-climate aromatics to go with a higher pH, rounder, softer profile on the palate, with distinct saline-like qualities. Sashi attributed this to higher density vines and to different farming methods used (I tasted these next to the Sandhi releases, which were much more classic with regard to their texture/acid balance), but it certainly made me scratch my head. It will be interesting to see how these age.
Vinous Antonio Galloni 2015 (92 Punkte)
Cranberry, orange peel, blood orange, mint and sweet spices are some of the notes that flesh out in the 2013 Pinot Noir Memorious. Pliant and expressive, the 2013 offers lovely balance to match its understated, gracious personality. The finish is lifted, intensely floral and ethereal in style, with silky tannins that give the wine much of its approachability.
