2016 Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains)

This is another superb set of wines from Fogarty. Thankfully the 2016 vintage was far less stressful than 2015, and there is more wine, both in terms of yield and the number of labels that were bottled. As always, these Chardonnays and Pinots are done in a stripped down style that showcases the unique attributes of the various blocks and vineyards Fogarty works with. Tommy Fogarty and winemaker Nathan Kandler describe 2016 as a year with a very early budbreak. Cool weather in spring lowered yields. Temperatures were very warm in July, and then moderated in August. The harvest started with Pinot Noir in late August, but not under intense heat, and ended with Chardonnay in October. Yields were about two tons per acre, similar to 2013 and 2011.