2017 PAUL LATO MATINEE PINOT NOIR

If you follow Robert Parker, or virtually any of the top wine publications in the US, chances are you’ve made note of Paul Lato.  Paul is a Sommelier who moved to the Central Coast of California in the early 2000’s and began working in the cellar at Bien Nacido.  As it turns out he’s a naturally gifted winemaker and he produced his first 6 barrels of wine in 2002.  When Robert Parker got a whiff of his wine, he told Paul that he had tremendous talent, and to hurry up and name the wine, because he wanted to be the first to write about it… Since then, the wine has earned countless scores in the high 90’s and it’s absolutely some of the best Pinot Noir produced in California.  His single vineyard Pinots are nearly impossible to find and go for $70-$90/btl… At $44, his Matinee Pinot Noir in all honestly, is absolutely the best Pinot that I’ve tasted this year in the under fifty range.  Pinot Noir fans really need to try it…

Artfully composed from three iconic vineyards including Sierra Madre, John Sebastiano, and Zotovich, the 2017 perfectly articulates just how great Pinot Noir can be from the Central Coast, and at $44, Paul Lato competes with any of the best Pinots produced anywhere in CA.  The wine was made in a showy and compelling style that offers a burst of red berries, garden rose, spices, and cola.  Trust me on this one…