This exquisite Pinot Noir is produced in the organic Double L Vineyard, a vineyard in the renowned Santa Lucia Highlands wine region.
Located at the northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Double L Vineyard is where the highest quality Chardonnay is grown. The vines are planted north-south on a terraced field facing west, maximizing the amount of sunlight and allowing the strong winds from Monterey Bay to pass through in the afternoon. These conditions allow for a longer hang time than usual, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and maintain great flavor and balanced acidity. Morgan has been practicing organic farming since acquiring his own field in 1997, and was certified organic in 2002.
After hand-picking, the grapes were sorted in the field and then sorted a second time at the winery. Fermentation began in open-top tanks using both wild and cultured yeast. After fermentation, the wine was transferred to 40% new French oak barrels and aged for 10 months. A blend of five Pinot Noir clones, including MorganLT.
Complex flavors of wild cherry, spices such as ginger and cloves, aromas of rose petals, black plum, spices such as nutmeg, and forest floor. Elegant tannins and a mineral feel like slate combine with rich red fruit flavors such as ripe strawberries. Goes well with duck confit and prime rib.
Dan Morgan Lee had been paying attention to the Santa Lucia Highlands and purchasing high-quality grapes from there even before the area was approved as an AVA. The Santa Lucia Highlands, where the fruit grows for a long period due to the cool winds from Monterey Bay, is the leading grape-producing region in Monterey, which was approved as an AVA in 1991.
Lee, who originally studied veterinary medicine, encountered winemaking while attending UC Davis and decided to make wine. After training at several wineries, Lee founded Morgan Winery in 1982 and is now known as one of the most high-quality and consistent premium wine producers in the Monterey region. In 1996, he purchased a 65-acre vineyard and named it Double L (Lucky) Vineyard, a nod to the good fortune of having twin daughters. When he first purchased the vineyard, the soil was not necessarily ideal, but he chose to improve the soil himself, and in 2001 Double L Vineyard was the first in Santa Lucia Highlands to be certified as organically grown. Lee, who is serious about the environment, manages his vineyards in an organic, water-saving, and energy-saving manner. As a result, he is also certified as "SIP-Sustainability in Practice" (sustainable environmental conservation wine production), and is the only winery in Santa Lucia Highlands to have both certifications.
Morgan produces high-quality wines using grapes from top growers such as Double L Vineyard, Garry's Vineyard, and Rosella's Vineyard. "My goal is to make wines that faithfully reflect the characteristics of the terroir and the characteristics of the grape varieties," says Lee.
*The Wine Institute and the Wine Growers Association jointly established the California Sustainable Wine Alliance, a system that certifies the efforts of wineries and grape growers.