Tondre Pinot Noir
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted duck, wild mushroom risotto, seared salmon
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Sourced from the prestigious Tondre Grapefield in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this single-vineyard Pinot Noir is a testament to the region's dramatic maritime climate. Planted in 1997 by Tondre Alarid as a tribute to his family's deep agricultural roots in Monterey County, the vineyard benefits from the cooling winds of Monterey Bay and morning fog, allowing for a long, slow ripening period. Dominion Tantara crafts this wine using traditional Burgundian techniques, including gentle handling and aging in select French oak barrels. The resulting wine beautifully captures the signature Santa Lucia Highlands profile: rich, dark fruit flavors, vibrant acidity, and a distinct earthy undertone, all framed by silky tannins.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1997 by Bill Cates, Dominion Tantara is a distinguished boutique winery located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. The winery is dedicated to producing exceptional, site-specific wines, sourcing fruit from some of the Central Coast's most prestigious vineyards, including Bentrock, Dierberg, and La Encantada. Emphasizing traditional French winemaking methods and minimal intervention, Dominion Tantara specializes in elegant, terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Their acclaimed single-vineyard and reserve bottlings, such as the Cuvee Jeannette and Evelyn Pinot Noirs, are highly regarded for their sophistication, balance, and aging potential.