Full Review

Intercept

Intercept
2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Pinot Noir

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 15%
89 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$19

Intercept
2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey County

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Pinot Noir

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 15%
Dusty ruby color. Aromas and flavors of cherries, blackberry, cola, ripe summer tomato, paprika, fresh thyme, and hints of caramelized mushrooms with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium body and a seamless, engaging, long finish with notes of honey, toasted pine nuts, black tea, and chocolate croissant with light oak flavor. A creamy, bright Pinot Noir; great to sip on its own or with a meat and cheese plate.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity & Juicy & Smooth
Aroma Aroma: cherries, blackberry, cola, ripe summer tomato, paprika, fresh thyme, and hints of caramelized mushrooms
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of honey, toasted pine nuts, black tea, and chocolate croissant
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A creamy, bright Pinot Noir; great to sip on its own or with a meat and cheese plate.

The Producer

O’Neill Vintners & Distillers

The Producer
101 Larkspur Landing Circle
Suite 350
Larkspur, CA 94939
USA
1 559-638-3544

Their Portfolio

90 Austerity 2018 Chardonnay, Arroyo Secco 13.5% (USA) $16.00.
88 Austerity 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey 14.5% (USA) $16.00.
85 Buttercup 2018 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.00.
88 Buttercup 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $9.00.
88 Buttercup 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
BR Buttercup 2020 Rose, California 12.5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Cloud Break 2019 Black Cloud Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
87 Cloud Break 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Moscato, California 9.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Cloud Break 2020 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
88 Cloud Break 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2019 Merlot, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Cloud Break 2020 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Cloud Break 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
BR Cloud Break 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13% (USA) $9.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Creamery 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
87 Day Owl 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.00.
BR Day Owl 2020 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $14.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Exitus 2017 Red Blend, California 15.9% (USA) $19.00.
85 Firebrand 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
85 Firebrand 2019 Winemaker’s Reserve, Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
86 Firebrand 2020 Barrel Fermented , Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 Game Box 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $24.99.
87 Game Box 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.500000000000001% (USA) $24.99.
85 Game Box 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12.5% (USA) $24.99.
85 Game Box 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $24.99.
BR Game Box 2020 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $24.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Golden Circle 2019 Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $12.99.
91 Harken 2019 Barrel Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
88 Harken 2019 Barrel-Fermented, Chardonnay, California 14.5% (USA) $14.00.
91 Intercept 2017 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15.7% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2017 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 15% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Pinot Noir, Monterey County 15% (USA) $19.00.
85 Intercept 2018 Chardonnay, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2019 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15% (USA) $19.00.
89 Intercept 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 14.5% (USA) $19.99.
87 Intercept 2019 Pinot Noir, Monterey 15% (USA) $19.99.
87 Intercept 2018 Red Blend, Paso Robles 15.0% (USA) $19.99.
89 Intercept 2019 Chardonnay, Monterey 13.5% (USA) $19.99.
BR Line 39 2017 Excursion Red Blend, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Line 39 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Line 39 2018 Chardonnay, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Line 39 2018 Pinot Grigio, California 13% (USA) $10.00.
87 Line 39 2018 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $10.00.
85 Line 39 2019 Rosé, California 12.5% (USA) $10.00.
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Pinot Noir, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Rosé Spritzer, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Rose, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
BR Line 39 NV Spritzer, Rose, California 5% (USA) $12.99. - Bronze Medal
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
86 Line 39 NV Spritzer, Sauvignon Blanc, California 5% (USA) $12.99.
85 Magna Terra 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.5% (USA) $7.99.

Pinot Noir

Wine Glass Burgundy.jpg
Serve in a Burgundy Wine Glass
Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most fascinating red varieties. While many red grapes produces wines of power and youthful intensity, a wine made from Pinot Noir is often more refined with higher acidity and lower levels of tannins. The spiritual home for Pinot Noir is Burgundy, where it is produced in many styles, from very light to examples that can age for two to three decades.

Pinot Noirs tend to have aromas and flavors red cherry fruit, while some offer notes of wild strawberry, plum or even floral notes such as carnation and red roses. As tannins in Pinot Noir are not as pronounced as in a grape such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Nebbiolo, most Pinot Noirs can be enjoyed upon release, which is usually two to three years after the vintage.

Burgundy works extremely well for Pinot Noir, as it is a cool climate; a warm or hot climate would not bring out the perfumes of the variety. Thus growers in several countries have planted Pinot Noir in their coolest regions, looking to emulate Burgundy. These include the Willamette Valley in Oregon; Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills in California (among others); Central Otago in New Zealand; Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys in Chile and the Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden in Germany (where the grape is known as Spatburgunder). The concept of terroir – a wine is the producet of its specific environment – is most often associated with Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noirs tend to pair well with poultry (duck a l’orange is a classic match), game birds and even certain types of seafoods (as tannins are low), such as salmon, tuna and halibut.