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August West

These micro-production wines are a joint venture between Ed Kurtzman (winemaker), Gary Franscioni (owner of Rosella’s vineyard) and Howard Graham (owner of Graham Family Vineyard). The wines are made at Freeman Winery, from fruit sourced from some of Sonoma Coast’s most highly regarded vineyards. August West Winemaker Ed Kurtzman has been making Pinot Noir since 1994 where he got his start in the cellar at Bernardus. From 1995 through 1998 Ed moved across Monterey County to Chalone Vineyard where he was enologist and then assistant winemaker under Michael Michaud. Ed had the good fortune of meeting future August West partners Gary Franscioni and Howard Graham while he was winemaker at Testarossa for the vintages 1999-2002. Ed uses a very light hand in the cellar when it comes to winemaking. Ed feels that his role is that of caretaker for Gary’s and Howard’s wonderful grapes.

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August West

Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (Archived) 2008

This is August Wests' first ever Santa Lucia Highlands appellation blend showing off what has turned out to be a year as great in quality as the well-regarded 2007 vintage.  During a very cold period after bud break, there was practically no frost damage in the Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir vineyards like there was up north in Sonoma.  The growing season was another long one, in fact as long as the very cool year of 2005.  Also, the crop load was the smallest we’ve seen in the Santa Lucias for quite some time, with an average of just over 2 tons per acre.


The Santa Lucia is showing a combination of fragrant aromas, ripeness, and balance.  The wine begins with some intriguing scents of rhubarb and cola followed by hints of black cherry.  On the palate there’s a liveliness which brings together ripe fruitiness with perfect acidity and fairly low tannin.  We expect this wine to be drinking at its best between 2010 and 2014.

-August West

Country: United States
Region: Sonoma
Producer: August West
Product Code DB7949-08
Varietal Pinot Noir

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