Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Cork Dancer is a sunny, forward Pinot that is still in the realm of the Cork Dancer style but on the riper side. It displays intriguing flavors of cherry, plum, thyme, juniper and a touch of spice within a beautifully balanced structure. It offers lovely depth and plenty of nuance in an approachable style.
Pair with rack of lamb, oak grilled pork chop and wild game.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Bruised red plums, wild strawberries and cherries are ripe yet remain full of energy and translucency throughout. Orange oils and incense flash around the edges of this elegant, delicately herb-flecked wine that will reward short-term enjoyment.
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Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir Cork Dancer is laced with dark cherry, plum, leather and tobacco. Pliant and resonant in the glass, with terrific depth, the 2022 has quite a bit to offer.
Pinot Noir is the second-most planted grape in Santa Barbara County, just behind Chardonnay. It thrives in cooler areas of the region, namely in the of the Sta. Rita Hills, which is part of Santa Barbara’s larger Santa Ynez Valley sub-appellation. Thought for decades to be too cool for viticulture, Sta. Rita Hills began to gain notoriety in the 1970’s, thanks to the pioneering work of Richard Sandford and Michael Benedict, among others.
Santa Barbara Pinot Noir dances across the palate with vivid red fruit and spice. Precision, bright acidity, elegance and fruit-driven silkiness make Santa Barbara Pinot delightfully enjoyable, whether on their own or with a variety of dishes.