Ahlgren Vineyard Santa Cruz Pinot Noir

This is one of the strangest reviews I have ever done, because the wine concerned has long since been sold. Our purpose is to tell readers about this exceptional Santa Cruz winery which is producing world class wines.

Only a few hundred cases of this superb Pinot Noir are produced each vintage by Ahlgren Vineyards at their remote location in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The winery is only 40 minutes drive from the Ahlgrens’ original winemaking facility in the Silicon Valley but could be on another planet. California-based wine enthusiasts will be rewarded by a visit but do contact the winery in advance at www.ahlgrenvineyard.com as they open for limited hours.


The folksy cellar shouldn’t distract from Dexter Ahlgren’s God-given talent as a winemaker. God can be his only source since he says he has never taken a professional lesson and the results are outstanding. Val and Dexter Ahlgren started their winemaking operation in 1970 in
A converted 2 car garage at 973 Cascade Drive, Sunnyvale. They learned by experimentation and the result, if this Pinot Noir is a guide, is sheer joy.

My only complaint is that Dexter will put wine journalists out of work by publishing his winemaker’s comment on the labels. Please read them and compare with our WOW review.

This wine has a rich, dusty bouquet with floral hints which are followed on the palate by bramble and cherry notes which display elegance and finesse before rewarding the drinker with a lingering fruit-laden finish.

It was one of the best California examples of Pinot Noir that I have tasted.