Belle Glos Clark & Telephone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
Full-bodied red wine. This is a rich, extracted, and lush style of New World Pinot Noir, crafted to showcase maximum fruit intensity, plush texture, and noticeable oak integration. · Belle Glos is owned by Wagner Family of Wine, founded by Joe Wagner, a member of the famous Caymus Vineyards family. It is positioned as a luxury-tier boutique brand specifically focused on single-vineyard, coastal California Pinot Noir. Belle Glos has achieved a strong following and commercial success by offering an opulent, fruit-forward style of Pinot Noir.
Vintage: 2019. The 2019 growing season in Santa Barbara County enjoyed mild temperatures without extreme heat spikes, allowing grapes to ripen evenly while retaining vibrant natural acidity and rich phenolic maturity.
Type
Full-bodied red wine. This is a rich, extracted, and lush style of New World Pinot Noir, crafted to showcase maximum fruit intensity, plush texture, and noticeable oak integration.
Producer
Belle Glos is owned by Wagner Family of Wine, founded by Joe Wagner, a member of the famous Caymus Vineyards family. It is positioned as a luxury-tier boutique brand specifically focused on single-vineyard, coastal California Pinot Noir. Belle Glos has achieved a strong following and commercial success by offering an opulent, fruit-forward style of Pinot Noir.
Country
United States. California represents the heart of American New World winemaking, known for innovative techniques, abundant sunshine, and a vast array of microclimates that allow for world-class varietal expression.
Vintage
2019. The 2019 growing season in Santa Barbara County enjoyed mild temperatures without extreme heat spikes, allowing grapes to ripen evenly while retaining vibrant natural acidity and rich phenolic maturity.
Region & Appellation
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA. Santa Maria Valley is one of California's coolest AVA due to its unique transverse mountain ranges that funnel cool Pacific Ocean fog and maritime winds directly into the vineyards, providing a long, steady growing season ideal for Pinot Noir.
Grape Varieties
100% Pinot Noir. The grapes are sourced from the historic Clark & Telephone Vineyard, planted with older selections that produce small berries with concentrated flavors and deep color.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby-purple core with a bright ruby rim. Highly opaque and saturated for a Pinot Noir, showing moderate to high viscosity with slow-moving legs that cling to the glass.
Aroma Profile
Intense and aromatic nose bursting with ripe black cherry, boysenberry, and dark plum, layered with secondary notes of baking spices, vanilla bean, cola, and a subtle hint of savory forest floor.
Tasting Notes
A plush and opulent entry on the palate, evolving into a dense mid-palate packed with dark berry preserves, cocoa, and sweet tobacco. The finish is long, warm, and velvety, leaving a lingering impression of spiced fruit and mocha.
Flavor Profile
Dominated by lush black cherry, blackberry jam, and ripe plum, complemented by non-fruit flavors of dark chocolate, cinnamon, clove, and toasted oak. The flavor intensity is high and lingers generously through the finish.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a remarkably rich, velvety, and creamy mouthfeel. It possesses a high level of dry extract, giving it a heavy, viscous presence on the palate that is distinct for the Pinot Noir varietal.
Acidity & Tannins
Medium-plus acidity provides enough freshness to balance the wine's considerable weight and fruit sweetness. Tannins are ultra-fine-grained, smooth, and well-integrated, lending a gentle grip rather than harsh astringency.
Sweetness Level
Dry, though the exceptionally ripe fruit profile and new oak influence give a perception of natural sweetness and roundness on the palate.
Alcohol Content
14.5% ABV. This is on the higher side for Pinot Noir, contributing to the wine's full body, warmth on the finish, and rich texture.
Aging & Oak
Aged for nearly 9 months in 100% French oak barrels, with a high proportion of new oak. This imparts pronounced notes of vanilla, toasted cedar, baking spice, and subtle smoke.
Food Pairings
Ideal with rich, savory proteins such as roasted duck breast, grilled lamb chops, prime ribeye steak, or mushroom risotto. It also pairs wonderfully with earthy cheeses like aged Gruyère or Comté.
Serving Suggestions
Serve at 60-65°F (15-18°C) in a large-bowl Burgundy glass. Decanting for 30 to 45 minutes can help open up the dense aromatics. Drink now through 2027.
Price Range
45 to 60 USD. Represents a premium luxury offering that delivers strong consumer appeal for fans of bold, fruit-forward California reds.
Quality Assessment
Estimated score of 90-93 points. Classified as a premium, highly consistent crowd-pleaser that frequently receives praise from major wine publications for its rich, unapologetic style.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested in the cool morning hours, destemmed with a portion left as whole clusters for added structural complexity, fermented in open-top tanks with gentle punch-downs, and aged without fining or heavy filtration.
Terroir
Sandy loam and clay soils with marine deposits. The vineyard benefits from intense maritime influence, fog cover, and breezy conditions that cool the vines down after warm afternoon sun exposure.
History & Heritage
The Clark & Telephone Vineyard gets its name from an actual historic intersection in the Santa Maria Valley where vineyard workers once gathered by a telephone booth. Belle Glos was established to honor Joe Wagner's grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner.
Interesting Facts
Belle Glos is instantly recognizable on retail shelves due to its signature thick red wax closure that completely dips down the neck of the bottle, a unique packaging choice that has become a brand trademark.
Cellaring Potential
Ready to drink upon release. Can be cellared for 3 to 6 years to allow the primary fruit to evolve into more tertiary dried fruit and savory characteristics, though best appreciated in its youth for its vibrant fruit.
Similar Wines
Meiomi Pinot Noir, Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir, Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and Erath Resplendent Pinot Noir.