Aromas: Opens with dark cherries, cola nut, purple plum and a sweet spiciness. As the wine breathes, earthy tones emerge, giving way to sweet black cherry and smoky accents. Flavors: Sweet cherry and tangy current notes lead the palate to flavors of berries, pomegranates and mushrooms. Smoky oak and spice combine with elegant tannins to stretch the mid palate, ending in a luscious finish. The balanced acidity and tannin structure allow this wine to be enjoyed on its own or with a wide array of foods.

The 2007 Winner's Circle Pinot Noir is a blend of some of the Central Coast's finest vineyards: Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County, the Cal Poly Ranch in San Luis Obispo County, and the Olson Ranch in Monterey County's Santa Lucia Highlands. Each lot imparts its own unique flavors, creating a synergistic, well-balanced and complex wine. Layers of complementary fruit and earthy aromas give this wine a nice structure, while the silky tannins create a rich mid-palate and a clean finish. The wine was aged for about 10 months in a mix or new and old French oak barrels from the Troncais region.