Talley Vineyards Estate "Rosemary's Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2023
(Arroyo Grande Valley, Central Coast, California) - [WA 95+] [JD 95] [VM 94] [WE 94]

About the Winery:
Talley Vineyards is located in the San Luis Obispo Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is recognized as the coolest AVA in the state of California due to its direct proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean.  Within the San Luis Obispo Coast, there are two smaller AVAs, the Arroyo Grande Valley and the Edna Valley, and the winery owns vineyards and farms in both valleys.  The cool climate of the area, coupled with calcareous clay and shaly loam soils, makes it ideally suited to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyards’ specialties.

The story of Talley Vineyards began when Brian Talley's grandfather, Oliver Talley, began growing specialty vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley in 1948. In 1982, his son Don Talley, planted wine grapes on a rolling hillside parcel unsuitable for vegetable farming. Four years later, in 1986, he and his wife Rosemary founded Talley Vineyards.

About the Wine:
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and surrounding Rosemary Talley’s home, Rosemary’s Vineyard is the coolest site at Talley Vineyards, has distinctive chalky shale soils and produces Pinot Noir marked by refreshing acidity. It yeilds Talley Vineyards most ageworthy and highly regarded wines.

Winemaker Notes:
Sustainably grown grapes were hand harvested at night and fermented with native yeast in open top fermenters and punched down by hand. The wine aged 16 months in 39% new French oak barrels.

Ratings & Reviews

95+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard echoes its Chardonnay equivalent as the most alluring and complex Pinot Noir in the Talley portfolio. It offers a slightly darker, deeper fruit profile than its counterparts, while weaving in fresh herb, citrus rind and sea spray accents. The beautifully textured palate is equal parts lacy and sumptuous while simultaneously displaying the most tensile elasticity of the range. It culminates in a long, layered finish framed by detailed, fine-grained tannins entwined with crystalline salinity. While already beautiful, I would err on the side of patience, as there is energy, dynamism and dimension here to spare." - Matthew Luczy (Dec 2025)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard displays a medium ruby/translucent hue and a spice-driven, complex nose of red fruits, savory herbs, and forest floor/underbrush-like nuances. Based on 100% Pinot Noir and aged in 33% new French oak for 16 months, it's medium-bodied and has a beautiful sense of purity and precision, ripe tannins, and clean, focusing acidity that comes through on the finish. There's a Vosne-Romanée-like complexity and depth here, and it should have solid longevity. Drink 2025-2037." (Sep 2025)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard has excellent delineation and fruit density without heaviness. Orange zest, rosemary, new leather and cranberry form a particularly intoxicating aromatic and flavor profile, all articulated in the lighter-bodied framework of the year. A persistent, herb-inflected finish wraps things in style. (Drink between 2025-2032)." - Billy Norris (Aug 2025)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Bold aromas of maraschino cherry and strawberry are laced in cola, cinnamon and tree bark on the nose of this bottling, which takes some breathing time to fully emerge. THe palate is plummy and layered in dried herbs and peppery spices, all clinging to a tense frame." - Matt Kettmann (Apr 2026)