2018 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyards, Foster's Reserve

For this, the second release of Foster's Reserve Pinot Noir, winemaker Ken Foster selected Dijon clone 667 from the top of the hills at Mahoney Ranch and paired it with a mix of clones from Las Brisas Vineyard, with a focus on the Swan and Carneros Creek Selections. The wine spent 20 months aging in 50% new French oak, mostly from the small Burgundian coopers Tremeaux and Rousseau.The resulting wine is gorgeous, leaning toward an elegant, red-fruited style rather than the typical Californian profile of dark ripe berries. The oak is likewise subtle in character, with a lighter toast profile that accentuates rather than masks the fruit, while adding length and texture to the palate. Packaged in heavy glass and sealed with antique-gold wax.