The IWR has had a long association with Wrath Vineyards that began in 2009 when we prepared a report on the wines of the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH): The Santa Lucia Highlands: Unique Terroir, Marvelous Wines. While Wrath is technically located in the Monterey AVA, it is in the foothills just below the SLH and sources grapes from several SLH vineyards in addition to San Saba, its 72-acre SIP-certified estate vineyard (shown below).
Wrath is an artisanal winery planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other varieties. Production is small and distribution limited. Over the years the winery has benefited from continuity in management provided by the team of vineyard consultant Steve McIntyre and Sabrine Rodems, Wrath’s talented winemaker. As revealed in this review, Wrath is producing several outstanding Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from both its estate vineyard and those of the SLH.
San Saba Vineyard
The Wines
Wrath 2023 EX Unoaked Chardonnay Monterey ($19 ) 90 This unoaked Chardonnay displays a light lemon color and is fresh and effusive offering aromas and nicely concentrated flavors of fresh ripe apple and pear. It also reveals good balance and acidity and a has a long finish. Sourced from the estate San Saba Vineyard.
Wrath 2022 Chardonnay Fermata Monterey ($35) 92. The Chardonnay Fermata offers a medium yellow color and a pleasant bouquet of light honeyed oak, lemon and apple. It is round and full in the mouth, nicely balanced with good acidity, sweet fruit, and a long clean finish.
Wrath 2022 Pinot Noir Ex Vite Monterrey ($39) 91+ The Pinot Noir Ex Vite is a lovely medium-light red bottling offering aromas of red raspberry, dried cherry and herbs. A 50-50 blend of Pommard 4 and 667, It offers a silky mouth feel, excellent balance, a long finish, and an overall sense of refinement. Aged in 50% new French oak and sourced from San Saba Vineyard.
Wrath 2022 Pinot Noir San Saba Vineyard Monterey ($55) 93. Medium ruby in color, the Pinot Noir San Saba Vineyard displays lovely aromas and flavors of fresh red berries with a hint of spice. It is nicely concentrated with soft round tannins and a long elegant finish.
Wrath 2022 Boekenoogen Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands ($55) 93 Medium ruby red in color with a bouquet of spicy dark berries, pomegranate and rose petals. It’s nicely concentrated, revealing complex, spicy flavors, excellent balance, good acidity, and a long finish that pops with love red berry fruit.
Wrath 2022 Pinot Noir Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands ($55) 93 Dark ruby in color.The Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir is earthy and herbal with dark cherry aromas. It’s full in the mouth with good concentration of dark red fruit accompanied by a mélange of savory spices. A delicious wine.
