Chanin Sanford and Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
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Spectator
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a fantastic wine from a historic vineyard by one of the most respected, and relatively young, vintners in the region. Light in the glass, the wine offers aromas of toasted sage, muddled cherry and mulberry, with a light hint of game. The palate bounces with fresh-fruit punch flavors as layer after layer of bay leaf and chaparral herbs reveal this unique site's many characteristics.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. This is a gem in the vintage that readers should snatch up. A more floral, ethereal wine, it has gorgeous cherry and framboise fruit, medium body, a tight, vibrant, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a bright spine of acidity that carries through the finish. It's a stunning Pinot Noir that I'd happily put in a blind lineup with the best out there. Give it a year or two and enjoy over the following 10-15 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Made with 40-45% whole clusters, the 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard has a pale garnet color and delicate cranberry and blackberry fruit with tones of dark spice, dried orange peel and potpourri. The light-bodied palate is gently chalky and fresh, with spicy top notes and delicate fruits on the ethereal finish. Best after 2022.
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Wine Spectator
Mineral-filled, with plenty of slate notes to the fine-textured dried cherry and berry flavors that are supported by fresh acidity. Taut tannins frame the crisp finish, with notes of dried savory herbs.
Other Vintages
2020-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Wine &
Spirits
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine &
Spirits -
Robert
Parker
Chanin Wine Co. is dedicated to crafting wines from Santa Barbara County that reflect the individual vineyard in which they are grown. They focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two grapes that are especially revealing of subtle differences in geography, geology and climate. The grapes are grown in Santa Barbara County, where cool coastal winds, diverse marine based soils and a long growing season provide an exciting and unique environment for Burgundian varieties.
The vineyards are the focus of all of the wines and each wine is made from grapes grown at one vineyard and not blended. Chanin searches out old vines, and makes wine from some of the oldest in the county. This allows them to make refreshingly balanced wines at lower alcohol levels than most California "blockbuster" or "cult" styled wines. Through low yields, improved farming techniques and gentle winemaking we aim to create a wine that pairs well with food and is delicious young, but is also age-worthy. All of the vineyards are organic or sustainably farmed.
Their winemaking philosophy is rooted in representing each individual vineyard by emphasizing balance, finesse, and complexity. They avoid excessive alcohol, and modern winemaking additives (such as commercial yeasts, bacteria, enzymes) that can overshadow vineyard characteristics. They also do not filter the wines or use intrusive wine processing machines. The goal is to grow grapes that are so healthy none of the above is needed.
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.