Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Rounded, soft and pretty aromas of strawberry and pomegranate meet with pleasing touches of mace, star anise and hibiscus on the nose of this bottling, which always offers good bang for the buck. The palate is rounded with pomegranate juice, peppercorn, thyme and coriander flavors, pairing spice with soft red fruits.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Medium ruby color; ripe red to black fruit and savory spices in the aroma, some blackberries, pretty good; medium bodied, a bit of a sandpaper texture on the palate; dry, medium acidity, very good balance; tart boysenberry flavors, quite nice; medium finish. (Tasted: December 3, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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.