2019 Héroe Pinot Noir
Tasting notes
The nose showcases roasted dark cherry, smoked herb, and savory earth tones, which is surprising for a wine aged in neutral oak. The palate has a slight toasted taste followed by a menagerie of ripe fruit flavors. Overall the wine has a lovely savory quality, while flavors of dried cranberry and rose-petal offer crisp taste and a fresh finish.
The grapes were immediately processed at Sculpterra Winery following the night time harvest. Harvesting at night ensured that the grapes were cool and fresh, paving the way for the best possible fruit flavors to shine through in the wine! The fruit was processed separately by clone; 115 and 777. We tank fermented both lots and cold soaked the fruit at 45 degrees for 2 days before inculcation of cultured yeast strains, #3001 and BM45. The wine fermented at a temperature range of 55-70 degrees, insuring a long, steady and healthy alcoholic fermentation. The wine aged for 7 months in small 228L Burgundy style barrels. Clone 777 shows great raspberry fruit taste and subtle textures, while Clone 115 showed darker cherry notes with deeper textures and a dry tannic finish. These barrels were tasted and topped every six weeks before blending and bottling in May 2020.
Héroe wines have been produced commercially at Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden since 2012. Héroe celebrates the vineyard and winery workers; more specifically, the vineyard workers who are responsible for every operation at Sculpterra! Lugardo “Uga” Zatarian, featured on the front label of this bottle, is that man. Uga worked eight years at Frankel Family Vineyards doing all sorts of jobs in the vineyard. His tireless efforts and dedication to farming excellence, like all the others who work in our vineyard, are the reason our wine taste so wonderful. Uga retired in 2011 and this label honors the memory of his dedication to Sculpterra as he set a high standard!
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Appellation | Paso Robles |
| Vineyard | Frankel Family Estate |
| Harvest Date | 09/18/2019 |
| Acid | 0.64 |
| PH | 3.71 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.75 |
| Alcohol | 13.90% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
Héroe wines pay homage to our Sculpterra and Frankel Estate Vineyard workers. In fact, a portion of the proceeds goes directly to support the Flying Samaritans Medical group, who offer free medical care in the poorest places in Baja California. This Pinot Noir is truly remarkable; it’s easy to drink, shows off gorgeous lighter style fruits, contains clean and bright acidity, and is ready to drink upon release. 2019 was the best growing season we have ever experienced! Large off-season rains helped to rejuvenate our soils, and moderate spring and summer weather helped ripen the crop with ease and finesse. Amazingly, 2019 was our biggest crop on record! I personally feel vintage 2019 will be remembered as the best year of the decade, as the quality of fruit was simply perfect.
