2005 Ambullneo Mastiff Cuvee Pinot Noir

Ambullneo Vineyards is in Santa Maria Valley, on California’s Central Coast. It was founded by Greg Linn and several investors with the goal of making Burgundian style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, though the vineyard also produces Syrah. The name of the winery and various wines are taken from Linn’s fondness for bull dogs, and the limited production wines have impressed wine reviewers. The Wine Advocate notes that “As most Santa Barbara cognoscenti know, Greg Linn is a huge fan of Burgundian wines, and has dedicated his projects in Santa Barbara to making potentially long-lived, elegant, flavorful wines in a more European style...” Wine Advocate called a recent Ambulleno Pinot Noir "a serious winner meant for connoisseurs."

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.