2022 Paul Lato Pinot Noir “Suerte”, Solomon Hills Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 96+ Points
This notably elegant vintage of Suerte is aromatically forthcoming, genteel and focused on aromas of boysenberry, dry dark cherry, Bing cherry, cranberry sauce, blueberry and plum compote, in seductive harmony with savory notes of star anise, mace, mulling spice, potpourri and hazelnut nougat. It is surprisingly gripping and appealingly zesty on the palate, where its sophisticated fruity-savory combination is caressed by the typical Lato suppleness, although that tannic grip firms things when the wine is first opened. With airing, all the elements achieve their promised harmony and reveal an extremely long, satisfying finish, with an undercurrent of saline minerality. Likely eighteen to thirty months from its full expression, this is already a lovely dinner wine. 668 cases produced.