Medium-plus ruby color; plum, dark cherry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, fig, cola-root beer, spice, vanilla, chocolate on the nose and palate.
Dry; rich, opulent style; lush, polished, delicious tannins and balancing acidity (3.68). Full, velvety, voluptuous, lush in the mouth. Medium-plus body. Grapes—two-thirds from Santa Lucia Highlands, one-third from estate San Bernabe Vineyard. The vintage enjoyed cool, moderate weather with no significant heat spikes. Grapes picked vine-by-vine over a two-week window as they ripened. Destemmed and sorted to preserve as much whole cluster as possible.
Fermented in open-top, stainless steel tanks. Saignée method presented juice as fermentation began. Juice then pumped over the cap during fermentation to extract flavor and color. Must remained in the tank to encourage richness and concentration. Five-day cold soak with manual punch-downs three-to-six times per day. Malolactic fermentation in French oak. Wine aged in predominantly French oak, one-third new, for one year. 14.5% ABV
Diora’s name is the French word for “gold.” The website notes: “A tribute to the golden hills of the Santa Lucia Mountain range in Monterey, CA. Diora embodies the unwavering commitment to crafting a signature wine style that overflows with flavor, depth and a dedication of indulgence.” James Ewart is the winemaker.
Diora La Petite Grace Pinot Noir, Monterey 2019 is delicious, rich, easily approachable. Excellent QPR (quality-price ratio). Silky smooth. Good depth and complexity for a pinot at this price point. A wine folks who claim they do not like red wine will like. Pair with poultry; seafood; light fish; pork; lighter red meats; comfort food—pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf, burgers; vegetarian fare Cheese—sheep’s milk and semi-soft cheeses; gruyère, comté, emmenthal, gouda, abbaye de belloc, zamarano, manchego. $18-21
