Denis Hoey’s Odonata wines just get better and better. His 2013 Pinot Noir is simply gorgeous, and awash with bold flavors of woodsy spice and forest floor. Earthy aromas matched with black cherry round out this elegant Pinot. “This is textbook Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir both in complexity and flavor,” says winemaker Hoey. “This wine will age for many years to come.”
Grapes are harvested from Falcon Hill Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains which Hoey refers to as “my estate.” “I am in full control of growing practices in this vineyard,” he says. “I farm this vineyard organically—it is the core of the winery’s Pinot program.”
I tasted this Pinot ($38), along with several other Odonata wines, at a Route 1 Farms in Santa Cruz, where farm owner Jeff Larkey hosts an impressive Summer Farm Dinner Series with guest chefs and winemakers. Kendra Baker of Assembly prepared incredible food for this particular dinner, and Hoey poured his Falcon Hill Pinot to go with a main course of grilled pork loin and vegetables served with tender gnocchi and roasted beets. All four courses, paired with elegant Odonata wines, were spectacular, ending with a fromage blanc tart with caramelized apples and gold raspberries that was out of this world.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Hoey’s Pinot would be a beautiful wine to pair with pork, traditional roast turkey—or whatever else you may be serving up.
Odonata has two tasting rooms, so take your pick—and check the website for opening times at odonatawines.com.
Odonata Wines, 2343 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 566-5417 and 645 River Road, Salinas.
Calling All Rose Lovers
Pelican Ranch Winery will be releasing its 2016 Rosé wine from 3-8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18. Owners Phil and Peggy Crews say that the 2015 Rosé has almost sold out, so if you want some of that, I would hurry on over. The tasting room is open 3-8 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 102 Kennedy Drive, Capitola, 426-6911, pelicanranch.com.
