Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is a lighter hued, perfumed, medium-bodied effort from a site in Santa Maria. It was destemmed and brought up in 30% new oak, and it has ripe cherry and dried strawberry fruits as well as savory spices, loamy soil, and sandalwood nuances. It’s balanced and has a gorgeous, lengthy finish. It will keep for a decade.
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Wine Enthusiast
A light hue in the glass, this bottling offers pomegranate, singed chaparral and hints of game on the nose. The palate shows quite a bit of toasty oak that wraps around the baked cherry flavors.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced from Pommard clones planted in 1972, the 2021 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard offers a soft, delicate bouquet of orange peels, turned earth and candied red fruits. The palate is lacy and vibrant, concluding with a high-toned, spice-tinged finish with a distinct saline note that offers additional energy and refreshment.
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is laced with sweet red cherry fruit, dried herbs, tobacco, cedar, mint and crushed rose petal. This aromatic, earthy Pinot is classic Santa Maria in its flavor profile and overall structural feel.
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Wine Spectator
Light-bodied and elegant in style, with notes of blood orange zest, sous-bois and red tea leading the way for modest bitter cherry and damson plum coulis flavors. Stays persistent through the gossamer finish. For fans of the style.
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.