Winemaker Notes
This is a limited vintage from the highest nine acre block of the Goodchild Vineyard, an outstanding location to grow the superior clone 667. It is aged sur lees in French oak barrels which brings forth the natural flavors of bright red fruit with smooth tannins and a lingering finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Time in the bottle has rendered this benchland wine lean and exposed to its essence, which is savory, smelling of miso, plum sauce, smoke and tart raspberry. This wine’s delicate grace presents the best reasons to drink older pinot, for the finesse of its evolved texture, for the umami thrills it can produce.
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Wine Enthusiast
Candied raspberry and roasted strawberry aromas meet with purple flowers and oak on the nose of this bottling. With 36% aged in new French oak, light strawberry and refreshing red-plum flavors rise above prominent oak tones on the palate.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.