Muns Vineyard

At 2600 feet above sea level, Muns Vineyard is one of the highest in the country, and probably the highest Pinot Noir vineyard. The 77 acre property was a pine tree farm in the 1970s. During the 1980s a previous owner installed 13 acres of irrigation and trellising and planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. However the project was abandoned before any wine was ever produced.

Ed Muns purchased the property in 1988; by then the few remaining vines were in very pooor shape and the vinyard was completely overgrown. In 1997 he began refurbishing the vineyard and repairing the old damaged trellising and irrigation. He planted three different kinds of rootstock and grafted them with four different Pinot clones. Most of the fruit is sold to Silver Mountain and Sonnet, with a small portion being used for Ed's own label.

The first commercial vintage was 2004, and was custom-crushed at Soquel vineyards. Since 2005 the wine has been made by Tony Craig at Silver Mountain.

The wines were poured at the Forbes History Museum in Los Gatos during the Vintners' festival to celebrate the launch of their exhibit on the historic Novitiate winery.

2007 "Jazz On The Plazz" Rose $16
The rose is available in two labels, but it's the same wine. This particular label is to support the Los Gatos Summer Jazz series and is only sold within Los Gatos.
Very nice nose of strawberries and rose petals follows on to the palate. A light, fresh summer wine.

2004 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
This saw 8 months of new French oak. Good nose of sharp cherry and vanilla. Good, deep cherry fruit followed by a dry, fairly short finish.

2005 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
The first vintage made by Tony Craig. The wine spends 18 months in 30% to 50% new Hungarian oak. Rather than being racked the lees is stirred periodically.
There's a slightly oxidised note to the nose; on the palate the acidity overwhelms the fruit. Might appear better with food, but alone it comes across as disjointed.

2006 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
A very nice nose showing lots of rose petal. Lighter than the 2005; fresh and fruity, well balanced and drinking nicely.

2007 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains
As with the 2007 rose, the nose shows strawberries and rose petals. Abundant strawberry fruit, nice balance and a good finish. While it's nice now, it should continue to improve for the next few years.

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