Varner

Los Alamos Vineyard Pinot Noir

9.018 ratings
9.21 pro ratings
Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Jordan Wardlaw

This way over-delivers. Cranberry, black tea, bergamot, tobacco, camphor, dried mushrooms and a distinct loaminess. Perhaps a tad austere for the average bloke, with some elevated VA to boot. But this is a rather serious Pinot Noir with plenty of potential for extensive aging. I’m getting decidedly Old World vibes.

This way over-delivers. Cranberry, black tea, bergamot, tobacco, camphor, dried mushrooms and a distinct loaminess. Perhaps a tad austere for the average bloke, with some elevated VA to boot. But this is a rather serious Pinot Noir with plenty of potential for extensive aging. I’m getting decidedly Old World vibes.

1 person found it helpfulJul 2nd, 2021
David Metcalf

Tart cherries and day-old strawberry juice. Pine, forest floor and meaty maitakes. Little bit of volatility adds lift to the loamy finish. For a light, transparent wine, this shows the depth of this great old vineyard. 🍓🍄🌲

Tart cherries and day-old strawberry juice. Pine, forest floor and meaty maitakes. Little bit of volatility adds lift to the loamy finish. For a light, transparent wine, this shows the depth of this great old vineyard. 🍓🍄🌲

Dec 23rd, 2020
J. Kim
8.7

Lot of French oak, lot of Central Coast, tastes very good but superficial.

Lot of French oak, lot of Central Coast, tastes very good but superficial.

May 12th, 2022
Lesli Powers

Cranberry, earth, dried herbs. An elegant, old world style with very little oak, which I really enjoy. Great buy from K &L with Insiders Advantage - bought an entire case.

Cranberry, earth, dried herbs. An elegant, old world style with very little oak, which I really enjoy. Great buy from K &L with Insiders Advantage - bought an entire case.

Feb 2nd, 2022
Roberto Carli

Balanced Wine, nose leads with dark fruit and spice, black cherry especially. No noticeable new oak but perhaps there is a touch, pallet leads with sour cherry, a touch of strawberry, lots of bitter herbs on the finish, tannins that are more flavorful than textural

Balanced Wine, nose leads with dark fruit and spice, black cherry especially. No noticeable new oak but perhaps there is a touch, pallet leads with sour cherry, a touch of strawberry, lots of bitter herbs on the finish, tannins that are more flavorful than textural

Jan 20th, 2022
Damian Walch

Really nice. Tobacco, blackberry…not really fruit forward. Tart cherry when I taste it. Great soft finish. Some leather tones. Enjoyed it!

Really nice. Tobacco, blackberry…not really fruit forward. Tart cherry when I taste it. Great soft finish. Some leather tones. Enjoyed it!

Jan 15th, 2022
Katy Barnett

Wine access.

Wine access.

Jan 10th, 2022
Jean Kim

Red vines/licorice, forest floor, mushrooms, tart cherries, dried violets. Paired with Hainan chicken!

Red vines/licorice, forest floor, mushrooms, tart cherries, dried violets. Paired with Hainan chicken!

Jan 2nd, 2021
Peter Roldan

Cherries

Cherries

Sep 20th, 2020
Greg Gosselin

A big, big fan of Varner and their Foxglove, the best QPR 2nd label in Cali, with Talley’s Bishop’s Peak a close second. Varner’s entry-level Los Alamos pinot is a super fresh, light-bodied style with ample fruit, depth, and acidity. For $20 it’s SOLID. Varner’s higher end chard/pinot are superb. Seek out the entire range. Foxglove truly rocks as well.

A big, big fan of Varner and their Foxglove, the best QPR 2nd label in Cali, with Talley’s Bishop’s Peak a close second. Varner’s entry-level Los Alamos pinot is a super fresh, light-bodied style with ample fruit, depth, and acidity. For $20 it’s SOLID. Varner’s higher end chard/pinot are superb. Seek out the entire range. Foxglove truly rocks as well.

Sep 18th, 2020