Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
The most ethereal and feminine of the 2018 Chanin red wines. Aromas of orange rind, tomato leaf and unlit incense. The palate is buoyant, fragrant and high-toned, with flavours of raspberry shrub, green pepper and iron. It unfolds impressively upon airing, and when compared to past vintages tasted from this site, it seems like the Pinot Noir at Los Alamos is starting to really come into its own. 15% whole cluster fermentation, 18 months in 15% new French oak.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Los Alamos saw just a touch of stems (15%) and 18 months in 20% new French oak. Its light ruby color is followed by a perfumed, complex, medium-bodied 2018 with terrific purity of fruit, lots of spice, decayed flowers, and forest floor notes, gorgeous balance, and integrated acidity. It's another beautiful, brilliant effort to enjoy over the coming decade.
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.
IPOPI11395_2018 Item# 657601