Winemaker Notes
The fruit for 2021 Highliner came from 5 different vineyards with the majority sourced from the iconic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. All vineyards and clones are harvested and produced separately using traditional burgundian techniques. 20 months barrel age in French oak along with masterful blending, brought all the elements to a harmonious whole.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A delicious, well-balanced wine that lightly coats its cherry and berry flavors with sweet oak spices. It's medium- to full-bodied, lightly tannic and appetizing, with red and sour cherry notes and touches of black tea and cinnamon.
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Highliner is a blend of fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria. This is more floral and earthy in style, but it works well. Crushed flowers, mint, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco and incense waft out of the glass.
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.