Grace Bridge, Pinot Noir

Alcohol percentage: 13.5%

Area:
A blend of Pinot from Monterey County and Sonoma County, all matured in 225 litre oak barrels (no new wood).

Grape variety:
Pinot Noir blended (unusally) with a tiny percentage (around 3% each) of Alicante Bouschet and Syrah.

Producer:
From Scotto Cellars – a large but family-owned producer, now run by a fifth generation of vine-growers, based in Lodi in the Central Valley.

The Bottle Shop rating:
California has for years been able to produce the cheap and dull or the fine but expensive. In the last 2 years that has changed and real effort is being made in the all-important middle ground. This is soft, supple, charming Pinot Noir at a sensible price point.