“Sea and Sun,” by the way (in French Mer Soleil), refers to the conditions of these coastal vineyards that make then ideal for growing Pinot Noir: the coolness from the ocean and the long hours of California sunshine that allow the grapes to slowly but fully ripen.
Here’s what Vivino says:
I had the pleasure of tasting this wine at the Caymus HQ with Charlie Wagner, and he's delivered a knockout Pinot Noir for Under $40, let alone under $20! An exhilarating Pinot Noir that can stand shoulder to shoulder with top bottlings from acclaimed regions of California, sourced primarily from Monterey – ocean-influenced and ideal for producing this varietal.
Leveraging a Cabernet playbook, this marries juicy, bold red fruit—fresh strawberry, cranberry, dark cherry—with vanilla, brown spices, and hints of oak, wrapped up in silky tannins.
Bingo. This one really is a knockout.
The 2018 was excellent, but this 2019 (with a 100% positive rating on CellarTracker) surpasses it.
