El Pino Club
The Foley Family winery created El Pino Club for their love of Pinot Noir- and the fact that they produce this most beautiful juice in many of the new world’s top viticultural areas. Producing brilliant Pinot Noir in a humorous and quirky way, welcome to El Pino Club!
Each “member” of the El Pino Club is an homage to its terroir and the hands that produced it. Clones are artfully blended from some of the best estate vineyard blocks, and these site-specific Pinot Noirs allow you to explore the signature style of each region.
The winemakers in “the club” are given poetic license to create a perfect expression of their land and winemaking style. Curated by the founders of Foley Family Vineyards of California’s Central Coast, the Foley’s have grown to holdings in France, Argentina, and New Zealand, as well as California, Oregon and Washington State. They continue their commitment to the land through sustainability at all of their properties.
El Pino Club is a whimsical expression of the fickle and funky grape Pinot Noir. There are three current “members” available here at Ed’s.
Sea Floored Is a Sta. Rita Hills appellation Pinot from the Pommard clone. The fruit was sourced exclusively from two sites that are influenced by the cooling Pacific Ocean. The Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard is planted on steep south facing slopes of heavy limestone. Rancho Las Hermanas is the westernmost property in the AVA, with vines growing in six different soil types, all of ancient marine origin. Sea Floored is an ode to the ancient sea floor in which our vineyards are planted. Concentrated fruit, balanced acidity, and fascinating minerality. On the palate, deep flavors of Chambord, red pomegranate, and cranberry with mild earthy tannins. Finishes with hints of tobacco and oak roasted coffee bean. Wine Enthusiast gave the 2019 vintage 94 points. We give it three bones!
High Haven Is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Anderson Valley, with ten months in French oak aging. Drought conditions in 2021 made for less production, as summer temperatures were above average with less cooling fog at night. Middle Ridge Ranch sits at over 1,100 feet elevation where warm winds and open hills produce fruit driven wines. From the shadows of the giant Red Wood Trees, High Haven opens with aromas of black mission figs, raspberry bramble, fresh tapped maple tree sap, and vanilla bean accents. The medium bodied wine is bright and lush with harmonious flavors of rose hip, dried cranberries, cola, and graham cracker. We give it three bones.
Funky Jory Pinot Noir was born of Pommard clones grown in the Dundee Hills Appellation of Oregon. Aged for 16 months in French oak, the 2021 vintage in Willamette Valley was also one of record setting heat and dry conditions. Mild rain during bloom reduced the yield further. All the grapes are sourced from our vineyard sites that are, not surprisingly, red Jory soils; rich in nutrients, high in clay content- this basalt volcanic soil produces Pinot Noir with high acidity, soft tannins, and a red fruit flavor profile. The wine opens with aromatics of black cherry, mulberry, sandalwood, and a touch of baking spice, which comes from light use of new French oak barrels. The finish is long and silky. The Funky Jory is a love letter to the deep, red Jory soils of the Dundee Hills. A classic Oregon style Pinot Noir reminiscent of the Old World. We give it three bones.
Foley Family was established by Bill Foley in 1996 – a portfolio of highly acclaimed wineries from California, Oregon, and New Zealand. Bill and his wife Carol purchased 1,000 acres of lush farmland in the Santa Barbara region, Sta Rita Hills. Their plan was to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reflecting the best of California’s Central Coast, named after their daughters, Lindsey, and Courtney. Lincourt Vineyards was born. In the 25 years that followed, the company expanded to include other world-famous wineries including Chalk Hill, Chalone, Silverado, Ferrari Carano and Clifford Bay, to name a few. They recently diversified into the world of spirits- re opening a distillery in Nevada, and they just re-released a New Zealand gin called Lighthouse.
We hope to see our Pinot fanatics come by and check out El Pino Club and these truly amazing wines.
By Carolyn R Brown
