Chamisal Vineyards Announces National Release of Stainless Pinot Noir

04 Mar 2014 --- Chamisal Vineyards, the historic property that is home to the first vineyard planted in Edna Valley, is pleased to announce the national launch of its Stainless Pinot Noir. After sell-out vintages through the tasting room, the 2013 vintage of this wine will be released in national distribution this March.

The Chamisal Vineyards Stainless Pinot Noir is a unique wine, crafted with minimal winemaking influence to express the distinctive varietal characteristics of Pinot Noir.

"Given the interest in this wine in the tasting room and the success of its companion Stainless Chardonnay in wholesale, we saw an opportunity to introduce this product across the country," said Erle Martin, CEO, Crimson Wine Group. "This wine's unique flavor profile, which is stylistically reminiscent of a high quality Cru Beaujolais, is appealing to novice wine drinkers as well as savvy connoisseurs."

The Stainless Pinot Noir was conceived as a companion wine to Chamisal's popular Stainless Chardonnay.  Produced without the use of any oak or malolactic fermentation – virtually unheard of in the U.S. – winemaker Fintan du Fresne allows the pure flavors and aromas of the fruit to stand alone with these wines.  A viticulturist first, du Fresne hails from Wellington, New Zealand and has applied his expertise with making unoaked wines to both the Stainless Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  Crafted with little manipulation and absolutely no oak influence, the resulting wine displays luscious fruit intensity and balanced acidity while allowing the true varietal characteristics to shine.

"By fermenting in stainless steel tanks, we ensure that the wine retains authentic varietal aromas and flavors, and the result is a wine that combines the juicy fruit characteristics of Central California with the restraint and elegance seen in Old World-style Pinots.  There is no better representation of what the Pinot Noir grape is," said du Fresne, whose New Zealand roots and purist winemaking philosophy helped to inspire the wine.  "Vibrant, youthful and expressive, it is designed to be enjoyed now while it is young and exuberant."

Chamisal's 2013 Stainless Pinot Noir was sourced from meticulously farmed vineyards throughout the Central Coast, with a percentage of the blend coming from the estate vineyards at Chamisal Vineyard.  The wine mixes the lively red plum and cherry flavors from vineyards in northern San Luis Obispo County with the spicy, intricate and structured characteristics of the Edna Valley to yield an expressive, flavorful and food-friendly wine.  The 2013 Chamisal Stainless Pinot Noir retails for $24 per bottle. Only 2,300 cases were produced.