Winemaker Notes
Coming from perhaps the farthest west Syrah planting in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. This own-rooted planting is comprised of a clonal field blend (5 different clones mixed throughout the 1 acre). The wine has wonderful savory notes and dark fruit flavors. Aged for 14 months in 2-3 year old French oak.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Crisp yet deep aromas of strawberry punch, hibiscus and wild mints show on the dynamic nose of this bottling from a vineyard named after a Prince album. The palate combines density and richness with brisk pomegranate, plum skin and white pepper flavors.
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.