Winemaker Notes
A beautiful blue garnet in color, with aromas of spiced cranberry, orange zest and pomegranate dancing from the glass. Grippy tannins and defined acidity come together on the palate evoking flavors of plum compote, clove, and herbal tea. Pure, bright, and clean, Terraces finishes with the grace and elegance you have come to expect.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Vinified with about 60% whole clusters, the medium ruby colored 2020 Pinot Noir Terraces has a deep core of red cherries, pomegranate and cranberries layered with tones of blood orange, aniseed and garrigue. Medium-bodied, gently chalky and super fresh, it offers detailed wild berry fruits and a long, ethereal, floral finish. Best After 2022.
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.