Plummy black cherry and sweet black licorice aromaslead to layered flavors of rich plum and light notes of bright tobacco. This earthy but elegant wine is supported by a lush, velvety texture and long, fruit-driven finish.

Located in one of the highest-plantable sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, this pristine bench offers the Las Alturas Vineyard cool, coastal days with consistent sunshine and a foundation of Gloria sandy loam soil.

When planting this 15-acre vineyard, we matched various Pinot Noir clones to individual slopes and soil attributes of the land. Our yields are deliberately kept low in order to preserve the fruit intensity these clonal choices have given us.

Wine maker notes

Located in one of the highest-plantable sites in the southern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County known as the ”Mission District”. This pristine bench offers the vineyard cool, coastal days but it enjoys warmer afternoon temperatures and tamer winds than the northern portion of the appellation. The combination of this climate with site-specific farming consistently produces pinot noirs of great texture, depth and balance.

Producer

For five generations, my family has lived and loved the Napa Valley. Our grandfather settled here in the 1800s and from that moment forward, we’ve grown to understand there is simply no substitute for an intimate knowledge of the land that only comes by ”living” in the vineyard. Working the land with our own hands has given us insights into California winemaking that can’t be found in any book or corporate farm manual. -Chuck Wagner We are the Wagner Family of Wine: Chuck Wagner continues to direct the world-reknown Cabernet program at Caymus Vineyards in Napa Valley; Charlie is making exquisite Chardonnay at Mer Soleil in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County; Joseph is making fine Pinot Noir under the Belle Glos label in the coastal areas of California; Jenny is learning the ropes here at Caymus and ah yes, our longtime winemaker for Conundrum, Jon Bolta, continues his craft of making that puzzling, white wine blend.