Winemaker Notes
This wine showcases some of the finest Pinot Noir vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. The backbone of the wine is Pinot Noir from Rancho La Viña Vineyard, situated in the cool and breezy southwest part of the appellation, and Rio Vista Vineyard, located at the eastern, slightly warmer end of Sta. Rita Hills. The balance of the blend combines cool climate Pinot Noir from the western reaches of Sta. Rita Hills for an exceptional, beautifully integrated wine.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Ken Brown is widely known as the "godfather" of Central Coast Pinot Noir (well, at least in my mind). The 2015 Ken Brown Santa Barbara Pinot Noir is a beautiful wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine is classic, rich, and well-balanced. Its aromas and flavors of aromatic brown stems and dried fruits should pair in well with a fruit-stuffed loin of pork. (Tasted: October 17, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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.