Winemaker Notes
This broad and complex wine brings pure varietal expression from two distinct appellations, layered with the purity of fruit and mid palate concentration from Sta. Rita Hills with a vibrancy and roundness from Santa Maria Valley, all working together with dusty tannins providing structure to complement the wines seamless length and approachability.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Black cherries, graphite, underbrush, spring flowers and spice show in the ruby colored 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County, which is a mix of Bien Nacido, Sebastiano and La Encantada Vineyards. Medium-bodied, pure and balanced, with fine tannin and a silky texture, drink this high quality beauty over the coming 7-8 years.
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.
GCWDWPSB14_2014 Item# 162751