Winemaker Notes
2016 was another in a string of terrific vintages in Santa Barbara. We had another early budbreak, and (unlike 2015) perfect weather during set, allowing for a strong, balanced crop. May, June and July were quite warm and ripening was fairly quick; however, an unseasonably cool August slowed the vines considerably. For the winemaker it was almost ideal, as the grapes were able to complete ripening slowly, without heat spikes, and the grapes maintained excellent acidity. Over a series of cool mornings, we picked each block at near perfect ripeness and balance. The wines appear to have great fruit character, fresh acidity and tannic structure and solid depth.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Though this winery's single-vineyard expressions are awesome, this appellation blend is also a strong choice. Intense aromas of tart pomegranate, cinnamon, sumac and turned soil lead into a smooth, fresh and high-toned palate of rhubarb and French toast flavors. Editors’ Choice
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes from a mix of sites in the Sta. Rita Hills, was mostly destemmed and spent 16 months in 10% new French oak. It’s classic Sta. Rita Hills Pinot, offering loads of spice cherry and blackberry fruits, plenty of background earthy minerality and salinity, some herbs, stemmy notes, medium body, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's worth seeking out and a great example of the quality coming from this producer.
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Wine Spectator
This glides across the palate with a mix of dried rose petal, cherry tart and red plum flavors that are well-spiced. Sandalwood and forest floor notes show on the broad finish. Drink now through 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is scented of spiced blackberries, cranberry, Bing cherry, pipe tobacco, woodsmoke and underbrush plus loads of earthy accents. The light to medium-bodied palate has an earthy profile, a sturdy frame of grainy tannins and great freshness on the finish.
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.