One of the longstanding family wineries in the Santa Lucia Highlands is Talbott Vineyards. Robb Talbott planted his roots in Monterey in 1948 after moving from Connecticut with his mother Audrey and his father Robert. Audrey designed hand-sewn silk ties while his father sold them to upscale shops along the coast. The luxury neckwear business flourished and became the acclaimed Robert Talbott Tie Company. Robb joined the family business after returning from college, but as a nature lover, he preferred to work the land. He chose to farm a chalky 24 acre parcel of land atop a mountain in Monterey for grape growing, naming it Diamond T Vineyard.. Talbott Vineyards came into existence in 1982 and later expanded with the 1994 purchase of the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Currently there are 700 acres on the estate. Talbott Vineyards and Winery was sold to E & J Gallo in 2015.

This is a sultry bottling with a highly aromatic profile. The nose speaks of fresh-crusted bread and honeycomb. It coats your palate with brown sugar, marzipan, baking spices, graham cracker and sweet vanilla. There are notes of roasted nuts along with lightly toasted oak. An amazingly complex, full-bodied wine with a super long finish and a mouthful of enjoyment.

By Joe Dimmagio