Lafond SRH Series Pinot Noir 2013
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Raspberry, dark slate, gravel and a bit of shiitake mushroom entertain the nose on this bottling by the higher-end sister brand of Santa Barbara Winery. Both richly juicy and brightly acidic on the palate, it offers flavors of boysenberry and sagebrush, making for a very lively wine.
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Lafond is dedicated to producing limited quantities of Sta. Rita Hills Vineyard and Appellation designated Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. The purpose of these single designations is to highlight the distinctions of soil and climate and create continuity in these slight but significant differences. Lafond SRH are single varietal bottling of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Grown and crafted exclusively in the Sta. Rita Hills (SRH) AVA, these cool climate gems hit the mark in depth and finesse and stand alone as one of the best buys in the region.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.