Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard 2021 (750ml) *
Product price
$44.99
Description
Grown at 2,000 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this is the youngest and highest-elevation of the Thomas Fogarty estate sites, replanted in 2012 to tight three-by-six-foot spacing. The 2021 Pinot Noir saw a substantial share of whole-cluster fermentation, half the fruit in this vintage, a choice that tends to add lift and spice to an already high-density planting.
Expect an expressive, floral nose with a bright red-fruited lift, then a palate that carries real complexity: rose petal, orange peel, mint, tea leaves and dried flowers layered over red cherry and plum. There's an exotic, savory streak here that keeps unfolding in the glass, and the finish turns saline and composed rather than heavy. Graceful and almost ethereal in feel, it drinks beautifully now while holding clear promise for time in the cellar.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Producer | Thomas Fogarty |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2021 Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard is a fabulous example of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Dark, rich and intensely savory, the 2021 has so much to offer. Rose petal, orange peel, mint, tea leaves, dried flowers and spice play off a core of red cherry/plum fruit. Exotic notes open in the glass, lending myriad shades of complexity. The Windy Hill is another positively stellar wine in this range. (Vinous, November 2023)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard is the youngest, highest density and highest elevation of the Fogarty estate sites, replanted in 2012 to three-feet-by-six-feet spacing at 2,000 feet in elevation. It typically sees higher percentages of whole-cluster fermentation, 50% in this vintage. The nose is immediately expressive, intense and refreshing with a floral, red-fruited lift. The palate is ethereal and graceful, effortlessly transitioning to a savory, saline and composed finish. Drinking beautifully in its youth but with fantastic potential in the cellar, this is an elegant and definitive showcase of the Fogarty estate. (Wine Advocate, April 2024)