Winemaker Notes
Dark garnet in color with wonderful aromatics of blackberries and huckleberries, with hints of violets, coffee and cardamom. This Pinot Noir is rich, with excellent structure and silky tannins, leading to a very long, beautiful finish. Pairs well with Grilled Meats, Mediterranean dishes such as Lamb Shawarma, Indian Cuisine or simple Burgers and Pizzas.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 D'Alfonso-Curran Pinot Noir is a lovely wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine is generous, slightly elevated, and rewarding. Its well-defined aromas and flavors of black fruit, smoky oak and chalk stay long and enticing on the palate. Pair it with an oven-roasted shoulder of pork. (Tasted: August 9, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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.