Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby in color, the 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County offers alluring aromas of cranberry and blackberry jelly, prosciutto, cinnamon, underbrush and tea leaves with loads of floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with a concentrated core of detailed fruit and a long, very spicy finish.
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.