Talley Vineyards "The Adobe of 2021"
(Arroyo Grande Valley, California) - [JD 97] [TWI 95+] [VM 94] [WA 92+]

About the Winery:
Talley Vineyards is located in the San Luis Obispo Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is recognized as the coolest AVA in the state of California due to its direct proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean.  Within the San Luis Obispo Coast, there are two smaller AVAs, the Arroyo Grande Valley and the Edna Valley, and the winery owns vineyards and farms in both valleys.  The cool climate of the area, coupled with calcareous clay and shaly loam soils, makes it ideally suited to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyards’ specialties.

The story of Talley Vineyards began when Brian Talley's grandfather, Oliver Talley, began growing specialty vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley in 1948. In 1982, his son Don Talley, planted wine grapes on a rolling hillside parcel unsuitable for vegetable farming. Four years later, in 1986, he and his wife Rosemary founded Talley Vineyards.

About the Wine:
The Adobe is a complete expression of Talley Vineyards, blending the very best Pinot Noir grapes of our estate. Cultivated and crafted by hand, this wine leans further into the time-honored winemaking traditions of Burgundy that inspired Don and Brian Talley to begin making wine over thirty-five years ago.

This reserve Pinot Noir was named in homage to the historic El Rincón Adobe —a home built in the 1860s on land that would become Talley Vineyards, made with surrounding soil and elements of the earth. The building remains on the Talley estate today as a reminder of the fortitude and magic that define our sense of place; it's the heart of our vineyards.

The 2021 vintage is soft yet energetic with notes of fruit and spice. It is not only a sip of finesse, harmony, and sophistication but also tells the collective story of our sense of place—the soil, climate, and history.

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"A tiny production cuvée, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Adobe comes from a blend of the Rincon and Rosemary Vineyards and was 82% destemmed and saw 15 months in 50% new French oak. Smoky black cherries, dried herbs, spice, iodine, and some meaty, floral nuances all shine in this beauty, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a pure, layered, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish." (Aug 2024)

95+ Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2021 The Adobe Pinot Noir comes from Rosemary's and Rincon Vineyards and was aged in 50% new oak. It's a vineyard selection made of the best sites that vintage. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant notes of red and black cherries, red roses, and lavender oil, followed by an earthy perfume of moss, damp soil, and garrigue. The elegantly styled, medium-bodied palate delivers intense red berry and earthy flavors with a racy backbone and silky tannins, finishing long and fragrant." – LPB (Oct 2024)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2021 Pinot Noir The Adobe is a blend of blocks in Rincon annd Rosemary'. It shows all the energy of this important vinatge in its dynamic personality. Sweet red cherry, dried flowers, spice, cedar and tobacco open with some coaxing. I admit, I prefer the vineyard designates for the greater singularity, but this is nicely done just the same." - Antonio Galloni (Jul 2024)

92+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Pinot Noir The Adobe combines one block each from the Rincon and Rosemary’s Vineyards, aged in 50% new French oak for 16 months. The nose is deft, ethereal and precise, showing aromas of dried cherry, cranberry, some floral tones and surprisingly well-integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied and combines silky precision with creamy richness. The oak treatment becomes much more apparent on the slightly coarse but well-structured finish, suggesting this will need a few years in bottle to digest its élevage. Nevertheless, it offers a refined, pretty expression of the Edna Valley." – Matthew Luczy (Jul 2024)