Blair Estate Debuts Artisan Pinot Noir
11 Jan 2013 --- The Blair family, with multi-generational roots in Monterey County's Arroyo Seco appellation, has released its first wine – a 2010 Pinot Noir from their own "Delfina's Vineyard."
Just over 200 cases were produced in this initial bottling. Suggested retail is $35; the Blair Estate Pinot Noir will initially be available online at Balirewines website and in select restaurants and fine wine retailers.
The Blair Pinot Noir will also be available in a new tasting room on San Carlos Street in Carmel-By-The-Sea in the Paseo San Carlos Courtyard – between Ocean and Seventh Avenues. Blair Estate shares the chic new tasting salon with Shale Canyon Winery. The Blair Tasting Room is open daily.
Winegrower Jeffrey Blair comments that it has been a long-held family dream to make small lot, artisan Pinot Noir: "We are honoring our grandmother Delfina's memory. The vineyard sits on the very first property purchased by our family's grandparents in the 1920s. Delfina's house still holds pride of place on the estate, where she would daily cook for the family and ranch workers. She inspired generations of our family; her passion for the land is the core value for our wines."
Beginning in 2007, the family began planting Pinot Noir on the old ranch. Jeffrey Blair knew the potential for winegrowing in the area, given the success of vineyard estates in the Arroyo Seco and neighboring Santa Lucia Highlands' appellations. The goal was to grow and produce the ultimate statement Pinot Noir; a Pinot Noir focused on this one piece of land, one piece of family history.
Delfina's Vineyard and the Blair Estate is planted to just over five acres of Pinot Noir, almost two acres of Chardonnay, and one block of Muscat. The "micro" nature of the project allows complete and total quality control from the vineyard to the bottling line. The Blair property's unique location at the upper end of the "Arroyo Seco Cone" means that "the Salinas Valley narrows at our doorstep, giving us consistent winds off Monterey Bay – keeping us cool and dry, perfect conditions for great Pinot Noir."
