Winemaker Notes
The seventh vintage of Joy Fantastic Pinot Noir from their estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. Fermented with 25% whole bunches, aged for 14 month in French oak, 10% of which was new. A blend of all the clones at their site: 115, 667, Swan, Mt. Eden and Pommard.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Proprietors Peter Hunken and Amy Christine are showing a bit more generosity of fruit in this vintage, and it works quite well. Aromas of strawberry and baking spice layered in pastry dough entertain the nose. The palate is simultaneously snappy and ripe, offering alpine strawberry and raspberry flavors alongside mace, nutmeg and cinnamon touches, set against a compelling texture.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir is dark-fruited, herbal and pleasantly earthy on the nose, offering additional beautiful savory nuances with time in the glass. The palate is juicy and succulent yet supported with a gentle bracing of sturdy acidity, finishing with powdery, pure, fine-grained tannins and a citrusy, floral energy. This is a beautiful expression of the western edge of Sta. Rita Hills.
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.