Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: In my book of books, Ken Brown (the winemaker) is an artist. Throughout the decades of tasting his wines from both Byron and his venture named after the man himself, his wines are as exceptionally honest. The 2014 shows excellent elegance and style, and is perfect for New World and Old World wine drinkers alike. TASTING NOTES: The wine's color is a beautiful garnet, aromas are wild and expressive of dried strawberries and brown leaves; the palate presents smooth textures, and the finish is crisp. (Tasted: February 8, 2018, 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.