Update Feb 2021: This is a very old review of the 2012 vintage of this wine. Unfortunately it is not representative of the more recent vintages we have tasted (the last being the 2019) which have become much too sweet in our opinion. (The 2019 has 15 g/L of residual sugar.) We no longer recommend it.
100% Pinot Noir from Monterey County (35%), Santa Barbara County (34%) and Sonoma County (31%), California.
Sample submitted for review. SRP of $22 and available for as low as $18, often at Costco.
From the bottle:
Unifying three of California's most notable areas, from the maritime mist of Sonoma, to the chilly fog of Santa Barbara and howling winds of Monterey in between, these Pinot Noir vineyards lay the foundation for one dynamic blend. With a soft hand in the cellar and aged in French barrels, the wine evolves into an elegant balance of spice and fruit, weight and restraint with grace and opulence.
Meiomi (May-OH-mee), meaning "coast" in the language of the California Wappo tribe, truly symbolizes the origin of this Pinot Noir. Each of the vineyards chosen for Meiomi offers the best expression of their appellations along the California coast: a layered blend of Santa Barbara's spice-filled aromas; Sonoma's bright berry flavors; and Monterey's rich textures. The wines are carefully crafted so that these characteristics continue to enhance and build on each other for an evocative and memorable Pinot Noir.
13.8% Alcohol
Despite having partaken of this wine many times this is surprisingly the first vintage that we have reviewed here at Reverse Wine Snob. Not sure why it took me so long since this is one of the more dependable sub-$20 Pinot Noir year after year, but in any case we continue today with our Pinot Noir theme for your rapidly approaching holiday gatherings!
The 2012 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir from the Wagner Family of Wine begins with a pleasant aroma featuring primary notes of plum and cherry along with secondary notes of vanilla, spice, cranberry and Sweet Tart candy. It's got great complexity right from the get go -- so much so that you're likely to find something new each time you take a sniff. Tasting the wine reveals it to be fruit forward with lots of juicy, ripe cherry and mixed-berry fruit along with a lush texture, nice spice and a little cola and vanilla. There's absolutely nothing not to like here if you enjoy fruit forward wines (and who doesn't?) It ends with more mixed berry, vanilla and light spice that resolves into lingering toasty notes intertwined with those Sweet Tart candy flavors from the nose. Believe it or not, it was even better on day 2. This wine is as close to a guaranteed crowd-pleaser as you can get.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.5
