A lovely surprise, this is for lovers of fruity, intense Pinot but there’s a lot of snap here.

Bernardus Pon, who established Bernardus Winery in 1989, was something of a visionary when he wisely chose Carmel Valley as the optimal location to plant vineyards and start his eponymous winery.  A native of Holland, Bernardus (Ben), bouncing back and forth between Europe and the U.S., fell in love with California wine and, after careful research, determined that the Carmel Valley offered the ideal conditions for the style of wine he wanted to produce.  That wine was a Bordeaux blend, labeled as Marinus, which went on to win high praise in all the major wine publications.  The west-facing valley allows for hot days and cool nights while the porous, alluvial soils, comprised of gravel, sandy loam, granite and limestone, provide the perfect home for grape vines.  Since those early days, Bernardus Winery has evolved into a major enterprise, complete with an elegant tasting room, event center, golf resort, lodge, spa and culinary center.  They’ve also expanded their wine program significantly, sourcing fruit from their estate vineyards and other sites throughout Monterey County.  Bernardus now produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and, more to the point, Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands and beyond.  The wine featured here, the 2022 Pinot Noir, comes from vineyards in Arroyo Seco, supplemented with fruit from some of the top sites in the Highlands.  The winemaking team at Bernardus employs sustainable methods in all their farming efforts, including organic and biodynamic techniques wherever and whenever possible.  The resulting wines are always full-flavored and beautifully balanced, expressive of their unique and varied microclimates of the great Monterey County.  The 2022 Bernardus Pinot Noir has a plush texture, balanced by refreshing acidity and topped off with plenty of exotic fruit flavors and spicy aromas.  It begs to be paired with a seared halibut steak or richly seasoned chicken preparation; both of which I enjoyed this past weekend with the Bernardus Pinot.  My wife Ellen and I share the dinner duties; she does all the cooking and I supply the wine.  I know, I know…it’s a tough job but after all my years in the wine business, I’m up to the task.  Wines like the Bernardus Pinot Noir make my job all the easier. -Frank Rothstein, Minister of Value