Winemaker Notes
This wine displays classic Los Alamos characteristics of crushed red fruit, raspberry and ripe strawberry on the nose. As the wine opens up, aromas of leather and cinnamon add depth. There's a very linear focus to this wine, with a refreshing, energetic mouthfeel and long finish. We expect this wine to age quite well, though it's tasting great right now.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A lighter shade of ruby red in the glass, this wine by young vintner Gavin Chanin—whose original art adorns the label—shows delicate aromas of whole cranberries, shaved fennel and dried tobacco. Pomegranate and cranberry fruits arise on the palate, but pine sap flavors are more prominent, along with licorice and eucalyptus. A strong tannic backbone for such a light wine indicates it will drink amazingly from 2018–2030.
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Wine & Spirits
Herbal aromas and a light, rosy hue predict this wine's delicacy. Gavin Chanin harvested the fruit from this sandy vineyard quite early in 2013—August 31—capturing pinot noir in a perfect state of ripeness. It's fresh and exuberant, with just enough strawberry-red fruit to flesh it out, the structure deliciously silky yet firm at its edges. Decant it for sauteed mushrooms.
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.
RVLCJPN13LA_2013 Item# 141382