Winemaker Notes
In the glass, this wine is a bright garnet color, brimming with aromas of tart cherry, sage and menthol. Hints of peppercorn, orange peel, cedar and black tea leaf add to its complexity on the nose. On the palate, this wine demonstrates a remarkably soft entry with a long, dry finish. The complexities of this wine continue to unfold in the glass.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Raspberry and cinnamon spice hit the nose first followed by crushed cloves on this supremely balanced wine by Gavin Chanin from a vineyard that's northwest of the Sta. Rita Hills. Dried cranberry fruit leads the palate, but it's mostly powered by a potpourri of brown spices, from peppercorns to nutmeg. It's a study of restrained ripeness that's fresh and tasty.
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Wine & Spirits
While this was picked at modest ripeness and aged in mostly used oak, it feels a bit obvious at first, a sweet-fruited pinot noir with caramelized edges. It needs some time to develop - with air, the fruit tightens into a brisk line of strawberry and rose, the aromas turning rooty and herbal, suggesting gentian root and bay leaf.
Pinot Noir is the second-most planted grape in Santa Barbara County, just behind Chardonnay. It thrives in cooler areas of the region, namely in the of the Sta. Rita Hills, which is part of Santa Barbara’s larger Santa Ynez Valley sub-appellation. Thought for decades to be too cool for viticulture, Sta. Rita Hills began to gain notoriety in the 1970’s, thanks to the pioneering work of Richard Sandford and Michael Benedict, among others.
Santa Barbara Pinot Noir dances across the palate with vivid red fruit and spice. Precision, bright acidity, elegance and fruit-driven silkiness make Santa Barbara Pinot delightfully enjoyable, whether on their own or with a variety of dishes.
RVLCJPN13DV_2013 Item# 141379