Sostener Monterey Pinot Noir 2021

Sostener is a collaborative project between two Monterey grower/vintners—Steve McIntyre (of McIntyre Vineyards) and Michael Thomas (of Wrath)—who are dedicated to producing affordable, premium-quality Pinot Noir from the famed Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. Meaning “to sustain” in Spanish, the name Sostener not only evokes the local heritage, but also symbolizes a dedication to sustainable winemaking. A powerful amount of oak is dominant on the nose of this bottling, which offers smoked meat, pepper and roasted fruit aromas. The palate is also very oak-driven, with flavors of smoked beef rib and black-cherry barbecue sauce.