2017 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Atticus John Sebastiano Vineyard
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Tasting notes
One of the deeper colored efforts in the lineup, the 2017 Pinot Noir Atticus John Sebastiano Vineyard comes from a site located on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. All destemmed and aged 15 months in 50% new barrels, it offers up notes of earthy black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and forest floor. Concentrated and powerful on the palate, with impressive concentration, it stays tight and compact, with fine tannins and a great finish. Hide bottles for 2-3 years, and it should easily cruise for over a decade in cool cellars. I continue to be blown away by the wines of Paul Lato, and these are unquestionably some of the most profound and exciting wines coming from the Central Coast today. The lineup has grown substantially over the past decade, and Lato now releases upwards of five Chardonnays, six Pinot Noirs, two Grenaches, three Syrahs, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Malvasia. Despite the number of wines, quality hasn’t slipped an inch, and the wines show incredible site and varietal typicity always paired with sensational fruit and balance. In short, don’t miss these wines!
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Pinot Noir Atticus is bold and lush in its first impression. A blast of intense ripe fruit hits the palate, but then the wine loses some of that intensity on the mid palate and finish. It's hard to say if the wine's disjointed feel is a result of challenging growing seasons or if the 100% new oak needs time to integrate. Either way, the Atticus doesn't offer the sheer appeal of the other Pinots in this range.
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Atticus John Sebastiano Vineyard, aged 15 months in 100% new French oak, is scented of boysenberry preserves, blueberry, dried tobacco leaf, charcuterie and pink peppercorn with cocoa, warm black cherries and blackberries plus hints of smoke, charcuterie and oodles of dried floral/potpourri perfume. Medium-bodied, it gives up intense, savory, broody fruits and spices, framed by firm but very ripe, pixelated tannins and great freshness to counter the dense flavor, finishing very long. This is powerful and refined. 170 cases were made. Paul Lato compares this to Volnay, if Sta. Rita Hills were Burgundy.