2024 Assiduous "Lilo Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot Noir

I don't think I've met him but Keegan Mayo is easily one of my favorite winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He's got a great smile and he makes just crazy delicious wines, and this is, obviously with all this front-loading, no exception. Woodhouse told us that he doesn't get the chance to make this every year, but I'm glad he did in 2024, it adds a new wine to arsenal to suggest to people. The nose is lean and high-toned, promising to be crunchy, with cranberry, cherry skins, underripe strawberry, and a little something kind of like herby brambley to round out the bouquet. The palate is really beautifully focused with more cranberry, pomegranate seeds, raspberries, and red cherry. Very pretty and fairly light, definitely would shine with food but doesn't require it. It sits at this really nice mid-point in our Pinot Noir lineup. Not as much fruit as the Regan and less herbacious than the Volkmann, it's a delight as it is.