Winemaker Notes
The 2017 'Sous le Chêne' Pinot Noir is another phenomenal showing from Domaine de la Côte. As this gorgeous wine slowly unwinds it begins to release beautifullly complex aromas of dried cranberries, boysenberries and dried strawberries, along side intoxicating scents of forest floor, smoke, black tea, dried flowers, exotic spices and smoldering incense all developing in the glass. On the palate this possesses a medium body with an absolutely gorgeous seamless texture and striking finesse. It goes on to display outstanding overall balance and precision, with wonderful freshness and a core of beautiful ripe red fruits, earth and hints of citrus zest, which are framed by a lovey saline character that expands through the long, sleek finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sous le Chêne has a dust, orange peel, fresh cranberry and rhubarb-scented nose with pink peppercorn, tobacco leaf, blackberries, perfumed earth and dried flowers. The palate is light to medium-bodied with oodles of classic Pinot spice and flower nuances—woodsmoke, saline, citrus peel—with a firm frame of pixelated tannins and juicy freshness, finishing long and spiced.
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.