A Silicon Valley Attempt at DRC… That Actually Worked

Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountain Estates 2016 Link to Wine: https://www.winex.com/clos-de-la-tech-pinot-noir-santa-cruz-mountain-estates-2016.html Join our Daily Email Offer List: https://cdn.forms-content.sg-form.com/f3da488a-d10b-11ee-94a3-62718bdc6118 Most Pinot Noir is made to drink young. This is not that wine. The Clos de la Tech Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2016 is a passion project taken to the extreme. Founded by a Silicon Valley tech executive inspired by the great wines of Burgundy, the goal was simple but ambitious: create a California Pinot Noir modeled after the legendary wines of Romanée-Conti. That means no shortcuts. Whole cluster fermentation, foot treading, native yeast, and aging in top-tier French oak barrels. Everything about this wine is built for the long haul. And that’s exactly what it needed. This wine was held back and allowed to develop for nearly a decade before release, giving it the time required for the structure to integrate and the character to emerge. Now, at around 10 years of age, it’s starting to show what it was always meant to become. In the glass, it delivers a fascinating mix of Santa Cruz Mountains character and Burgundian influence. Rhubarb, tea leaf, spice, and deep cherry fruit unfold with a structured, layered profile that feels both powerful and precise. The tannins are firm but integrated, coming more from the vineyard than the oak, creating a framework that will allow this wine to continue evolving for years to come. Only 150 cases were produced, and no expense was spared at any stage. This is not inexpensive Pinot Noir. But for a wine with this level of ambition, craftsmanship, and aging potential, it represents a unique opportunity. If you love Pinot Noir and want to experience something truly different, this is a bottle worth exploring.