New Releases from Santa Lucia Highlands & Neighbors

 BY JOSH RAYNOLDS | OCTOBER 11, 2018

Two thousand sixteen in the Santa Lucia Highlands and across Monterey County brought a long, problem-free growing season, with abundant beneficial rain throughout the year followed by an extended, generous harvest of clean, ripe fruit. In sum, it was a nearly ideal year, and that comes through in the wines.

Following an ongoing drought that began in 2012, the 2016 growing season finally blessed the Santa Lucia Highlands with plentiful, highly welcome rain. The region received 13 inches of precipitation over the season, the most since 2011, and vine yields were above average, especially compared to the 2012 to 2015 run of vintages. Temperatures through the summer and into harvest were generally on the cool side, with the harvest commencing at the beginning of September and extending into early October for many producers. The result is a strong set of wines from all varieties, that as a group show classic Santa Lucia Highlands fruit intensity coupled with energy, with silky tannins that will make the wines enjoyable soon after release.

Garys' vineyard is the source for many of the Santa Lucia Highlands' best Pinot Noirs

Patience Is A Virtue