Winemaker Notes
The herbaceous sage notes and red fruit flavors in our Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir perfectly complement the umami notes in the wild mushrooms and balance the dairy and baked pastry in these delightful tartlets.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Julia’s is one of two vineyards on the estate property named for the daughters of Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson (the other is Katherine’s). Here, the benchland clay-loam soils soak up what little warmth the valley provides; the vines usually grow fruit with a savory, dark berry expression. This wine is reserved, with elements of both surf and turf, the tobacco note lined with a salty tang. It’s balanced and finely wrought, with a balsamic savor that calls to mind braised duck. Best Buy
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.