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 Sal Godinez When Cumbre winemaker, Sal Godinez moved to Vine Hill Winery from the acclaimed Carneros wine growing region at the southern tip of the Napa Valley a few years ago, his expectations of what the Santa Cruz Mountains would deliver were very high. With all three of his 2006 Cumbre of Vine Hill Pinot Noir releases garnering significant critical attention, it is now quite clear that his expectations were well founded and his investigation into the region was sound. “My early research showed how well suited the Santa Cruz Mountains terroir and its microclimates are for producing really excellent Pinot Noir,” says Godinez. Godinez does not force the winemaking process, but instead, shepherds the specific characteristics of each of his selected vineyards to develop their own personalities. “The fruit tells me where it wants to go and I just guide it in that direction,” Godinez says modestly. It seems that the fruit has spoken, and Godinez has listened. And now, the wine critics have taken notice and are singing its praises.
With a similar limited production to the Hicks, with only 192 cases produced, the Cumbre Raffaelli Pinot Noir differs, however, in region and climate, and is located near the Vine Hill Winery estate vineyards at an elevation of 400 feet, above an area named Rodeo Gulch. The vineyard is dry-farmed most of the year, and the combination of an abundance of sun and predominantly clay soils produce a big, complex and multi-layered, yet wonderfully balanced Pinot Noir.
93-Pts. Wine Enthusiast, July 2009 — Wine Enthusiast calls this . . . “a very good wine . . . dry and silky, it shows rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, currants, chocolate-covered mints, anise and cedar that are lush and decadent.”
90-Pts. Connoisseurs’ Guide, June 2009 — Connoisseurs’ Guide says that this wine . . . “will appeal to fans of ripe, generous Pinots rather than fans of restraint, this one has nicely formed, reasonably juicy black-cherry fruit as its central theme from first sniff.”
Suggested retail price is $59/750ml.
The small Hicks Family Vineyard, just two acres planted to the 115 and 777 Pinot Noir clones at an elevation of 600 feet, is graced with Elder sandy loam soil that exhibits a high water carrying capacity. As a result, the vineyard produces an exceptionally high amount of fruit for its size, and at four tons/acre, a testament to the richness of the soil. The Pinot Noir produced from this vineyard is extremely well balanced and complex, and exhibits strawberry and baking spices that are classic hallmarks of Corralitos terroir. In addition to current media accolades for this bright and spicy Pinot Noir, the wine recently received a Gold Medal at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Only 190 cases of this wine were produced.
94-Pts. Wine Enthusiast, July 2009 — Wine Enthusiast says that this wine . . . “Shows the dramatic way that this mountainous region south of San Francisco can ripen Pinot Noir to such perfection. Brilliant in raspberry, cherry, sassafras, mocha, anise and cinnamon flavors, with rich notes of smoky cedar, it shows enough tannins to age it for a few years.”
88-Pts. Connoisseurs’ Guide, June 2009 — And Connoisseur’s Guide comments that this wine has . . . “Ripe cherry scents with a background note of strawberry jam and a mild woodsy edge . . . nicely filled out by crème brûlée richness.”
Suggested retail price is $59/750ml.
 Vine Hill Winery, located in the Santa Cruz mountains, in dedicated to making outstanding wines. These include Cumbre Wines, Gatos Locos Wines and Vine Hill Wines.
Cumbre wines are “The Pinnacle of Santa Cruz Mountains Wine.” Cumbre represents Vine Hill Winery’s best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from fruit grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. The Cumbre Pinot Noir we create will include Estate, vineyard designate wines Hicks and Raffaelli, and two blended Pinot Noir wines, Godinez and Barrel 31.
Vine Hill is our home and it is where our hearts are. We make Vine Hill wines to be affordable and great to drink because we want our customers and friends to enjoy remarkable wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. The Vine Hill brand focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Gatos Locos is the brand that allows winemaker Sal Godinez to be creative with other varietals such as, Syrah and Zinfandel in addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Please enjoy these wonderful wines with family and friends.
Sal worked at Freemark Abbey until 1996 and since then he has studied Pinot Noir making under Byron Kasuge at Saintsbury, and became the winemaker of Vine Hill in 2005, joining his long time friend, Nick Guerrero.
Click here to purchase any of our wines from our online store
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