Lafond SRH Series Pinot Noir 2019
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Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is a deep ruby color. Delicate aromas of raspberries and violets combine with mild notes of cherry cola. Stewed Bing cherry, truffle and dried lavender complete the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tea-smoked black plum sauce, cracked pepper and dried garden herbs make for a compelling nose on this bottling. The palate is quite savory with soy-like flavors that mature into joyously fresh dark flowers and fruits
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Upon first encounter, this Pinot impressed us as being so good for its price that we felt compelled to give it a second look in our final tasting of top-performing wines up for multiple star awards, and, much to our surprise, it stood the test and showed itself to be every bit as well-defined and inviting as most all of its aspirationally priced cousins. While having the structure to hold and improve for a few years, its accessible generosity and fruity abundance make it a lovely choice for drinking now. It is a seriously good wine that deserves attention from all Pinot Noir lovers who would like to enjoy their favorite variety on a more than occasional basis. Kudos to Lafond.
Other Vintages
2017-
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Lafond is dedicated to producing limited quantities of Sta. Rita Hills Vineyard and Appellation designated Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. The purpose of these single designations is to highlight the distinctions of soil and climate and create continuity in these slight but significant differences. Lafond SRH are single varietal bottling of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Grown and crafted exclusively in the Sta. Rita Hills (SRH) AVA, these cool climate gems hit the mark in depth and finesse and stand alone as one of the best buys in the region.
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.