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Samuel Louis Smith Monterey Pinot Noir Pelio Vineyard 2023

$6399

Pelio is one of the most extreme Pinot sites in California: just seven miles from Monterey Bay, planted at 1,000 feet on diatomaceous shale, and farmed organically since the original 2003 planting. The vineyard sits in what's about to become the Carmel Coast AVA, and it pushes the limits of where Pinot can ripen. Sam Smith - formerly of Morgan - works the fruit with native ferments and whole clusters, letting the site do the talking. The 2023 has the structure and grip of a cooler vintage, with sweet herbs and red berries riding on dusty acidity. Built to age a few years.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Wine Enthusiast

93 points

"Black raspberry aromas are quite pure on the nose of this bottling, then hints of sage-like herbs add a touch of nuance. The palate is very delicate and elegant to the point of being austere, as cranberry and thyme flavors lead into a tight finish." —Matt Kettmann

More about Samuel Louis Smith

Sam Smith is making some of the best wine in an area littered with exceptional producers. As the winemaker at Morgan Winery, the groundbreaking Central Coast producer, Sam was given the opportunity to find where his palate and California’s cool, mountainous Central Coast terroir converge. That is exactly what he is doing at his namesake label Samuel Louis Smith.

Sam cut his teeth and developed his palette while making Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley, cool-climate Syrah in the Northern Rhône, and as assistant winemaker for Margerum Wine. He knew that in order to make the type of wine he wanted he would have to seek out the coldest spot in the Central Coast coolest (temperature, not jazz) regions. Each site is unique in its soil composition but all are blessed with high mineral content low in organic matter, the perfect recipe for low yielding vines that produce fruit of exceptional quality and concentration. All of the sights he works with are organic or in the process of converting.

Sam crafts these gems in a neoclassical style, using light handling and wild fermentations to create wines of place and purity, aroma and structure. While plans for estate vineyards are in the works, “For now, I am sourcing fruit from the most distinctive sustainably farmed vineyards,” says Sam.

All of the wines are made in tiny quantities about 600 cases each which is probably why most folks have not heard of him. This will soon change. That’s because Sam’s wines are in the upper tier when it comes to quality for the region. They offer exceptional value, as they are considerably less expensive than anything at this level. Acquiring these wins was a no brainer for us.

Organic viticulture, mountainous terroir, and minimal intervention in the cellar are the tenets of Samuel Louis Smith Wines. For lovers of elegantly unadorned Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Syrah these are some of the most exciting examples from California we have tasted in a very long time.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Pinot Noir

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

  • Style

    Fruity

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Light Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Roast duck, mushroom-stuffed quail, beef carpaccio, aged Comte, lentil stew.

Tasting Profile

Medium-bodied. Wild cherry, sea breeze, dusty herbs, red berries. Elegant tannins, medium-plus acidity, savory finish.