Winemaker Notes
Glowing from the glass with a crimson core and a pale blush on the rim, the 2018 Sta. Rita Hills opens with whispers of fresh pomegranate seeds, strawberry gelato, crème fraiche and fig leaf. The palate is layered and round exhibiting notes of strawberry preserves, redcurrant and rhubarb crisp. Slight oak tannins present themselves on the finish coupled with a hint of lemon, pepper brine.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir needs a little coaxing to unlock notes of raspberry leaves, Bing cherries and mulberries with touches of wild sage, mossy tree bark and wild fungi. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with the most beautiful perfume, framed by very fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
-
Wine Spectator
Big, rich and filled with concentrated dark cherry, berry and plum tart flavors that feature plenty of Asian spice notes. Creamy accents in the midpalate lead into a powerful and well-structured finish featuring unctuous toastiness and chocolate nuances.
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.