Foxen John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Swan clone – 100% whole cluster in a small, open top fermenter; Other clones - whole-berry destemmed in to small, open-top fermenters as individual clonal lots.
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Wine Enthusiast
Plush aromas of dark cherry, iron and chaparral herbs carry the nose. The palate is full without being heavy, carrying flavors of ripe cranberry and cherry set against layers of anise, dried tarragon and thyme.
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Jeb Dunnuck
From the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, the 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard saw a touch of stems (25%) as well as 16 months in 54% new French oak. Lots of spice cherries, dried herbs, underbrush, and forest floor all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, with a rounded, supple texture, moderate acidity, and ripe tannins. It's a sexy, forward effort that has loads to love, although I don't think it will make old bones.
Other Vintages
2020-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
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Spectator -
Wine &
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Robert
Parker
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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Wine
Enthusiast
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.