Winemaker Notes
We recommend pairing with gamey meats, such as smoke venison and boar, or lamb. Chocolate torte and chocolate covered expresso beans would also complement this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Norm Yost produces another distinct wine, unleashing aromas of roasted lavender and seared violets alongside Mission figs and anise. The fresh and lively wine is extremely soft on the palate with elderberry and other deeply purple fruit. It also possesses a plum-skin tartness that wipes the finish clean.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Medium garnet, brick color; excellent pure strawberry aroma, kind of wild, lively and bright, fine depth; medium bodied, razor-sharp on the palate; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; pure strawberries in the flavors, just a shading of mineral, savory herbs and earth; medium to lingering finish, crisp and lively in the aftertaste. Drinking pretty well now, will improve immensely with another year or two in the bottle. (Best Served: 2015-2021)
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.