An odd addition to Delmore’s curt line-up of traditional cool-climate, harsh-as-a-cat’s-tongue Pinot and Syrah, I tasted it at a winemaker luncheon and couldn’t resist a couple bottles. Probably sold out by now, but check for sure. 2020–just a few months old, practically a nouveau, definitely some carbonic and fresh as a daisy. Light purple, thinning to maroon-pink at the wide edge. Carbonic richness, tomato-vine and dusty velvet in the nose, a bright strawberry Jolly Rancher glow wanting to be black cherry SOOOO hard the licorice and coffee are palpable.

Light, fresh and juicy in the mouth, it’s ALL fruit: Thompson Seedless and watermelon streamlined and gorgeous, the rasp of stemmy briar perfectly set in the background–more of an acidic dryness than tannin in the finish. This is Beaujolais Nouveau on heroin. This is California Gamay Noir with a serious streak injected straight in. An interesting wine to categorize. Reminds me of Coteaux Bourguignons or Sancerre Rouge. Remember Terry’s nouveau at Chamisal back in the day? Drank GALLONS of that at Big Sky and I feel like possibly at Fandango as well. Definitely chill this a tad: at 50-60 it is a gorgeous spritely beauty; 60-70 it takes on flabby characteristics like a watery pinot trying too hard. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on a few of these, it will be the STAR of summer.

2020 DARREN DELMORE Pinot Noir Central Coast 13.0

https://www.darrendelmore.com/