June 2007 Wine Tasting Notes:
2005 Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County.
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This wine is medium depth garnet in color with very good clarity. The nose starts a bit heady at first. Intense spice aromas of caraway and freshly cracked pepper precede medium intensity smoke aromas. Those lead into light cherry aromas. The palate consists of medium intensity cherry flavors and notes of oak and hints of mint. Light bodied with a delicate mouthfeel, this wine offers nice acidity a bit of heat. The modest finish consists of cherry flavors. |
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Cumulative Score: 86 breakdown 14.2% Alcohol $12.00 Retail (from winery); Production volume unspecified |
A bit lean but not lacking, this 2005 offering is unmistakably a Pinot noir. Spice-dominated, if offers good value. Nice acidity and slight tannins make this a nice everyday affordable alternative companion to lighter fish and pasta dishes. Enjoy over the next 3 years or so. |
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More Queen of Hearts reviews. More on the Santa Barbara County AVA |
Pinot Noir, the noble Burgundian grape, is often described as "difficult" to grow but the wine is beautiful and complex when circumstances are favorable. It is one of the oldest grape varieties to be vinified. The tiny (~60 square miles) Côte d'Or in Burgundy, France has been the benchmark for Pinot Noir for centuries. Nonetheless, it is planted worldwide. It is often described as delicate and light bodied and having a soft texture. The aromas and flavors are the most distinct and identifiable and most complex of all varieties. Common fruit aromas are: cherry, raspberry, ripe tomato and strawberry. It can express floral notes or rose or violet. Spice is a big element of Pinot Noir: cardamom, caraway, cinnamon, cola, clove, nutmeg, pepper, rosemary and sassafras. Most California Pinot noirs made today (with some exceptions) rarely have the make up to last past a decade but with age they can show tobacco and smoke characteristics. (read more)
The 2005 year saw an increase in crops over the preceding years. The year is being compared to the acclaimed 1997 vintage because of a very long and generally cool growing season without heat spikes. This long season resulted in extended hang times in even temperatures which gave the fruit good extraction but lower sugar levels. The slow ripening of the fruit is expected to make for elegance and balance in the wines of this vintage.
Over a mile long, and running along Highway 101 south of Los Alamos, the Los Alamos Valley Vineyard is planted with Rhône, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italian varieties on soils with thick layers of clay and loam soils resembling those of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion (Bordeaux). Cooler than the Santa Ynez valley but cooler than the Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos Valley's intermediate climate is ideal for growing quality grapes. Some of the vines, originating from cuttings brought over from Europe, are 25 over years old. The fruit from the Lucas & Lewellen vineyards is highly sought-after by many winemakers. Lucas & Lewellen also grow Cabernet sauvignon and Sauvignon blanc in the lower elevations of the south-facing Valley View Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. The 67-acre Goodchild Vineyard lies along both sides of the acclaimed Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. The vineyard soils vary from clay and gravel river deposits to hillside and hilltop sites. These vineyards have been producing high quality and prize-winning Pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes from vines planted 25 years ago. The cool climate of he Santa Maria Valley allows those two varieties to excel. Total Lucas & Lewellen acreage in Santa Barbara County exceeds 400 acres.
Queen of Hearts is the second wine for Lucas & Lewellen with a line of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir wines aimed at the $10 price point. “We know that 11% of the American public purchases 88% per cent of all wine. I think Queen of Hearts fits in to today’s trend of where wine consuming is and where it is going.” says winemaker Daniel Gehrs. Louis Lucas says these wines are made for "fun loving wine drinkers" and this is reflected in the label design by Bob Johnson. Sourced from Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards in Santa Maria Valley, the Los Alamos Valley, and the Santa Ynez Valley the wines benefit from a palette of three different climate zones of Santa Barbara County.
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5 points |
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Nose |
3 points |
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Palate |
2 points |
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Finish |
2 points |
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Tannins |
5 points |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
5 points |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
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Overall quality |
7 points |
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