Winemaker Notes
Scents of exotic spiced cherry compote is swaddled in earthy scents of iron ore, warm clay, and sandalwood. The palate is broad and rich, with juicy ripe cherries that mingle with framboise, Chinese five-spice, and a persistent thread of red rose.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Classic red and black fruits, leafy herbs, orange blossom, and damp flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard, another Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir with a supple, layered, medium-bodied mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a great finish. It has plenty of Sta. Rita Hills salinity and is a complete, satisfying effort that will evolve for 8-10 years, although there's no need to delay gratification.
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.