Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The salty, mineral-laced 2016 Pinot Noir Puerta Del Mar offers a distinct Burgundian-style in its forest floor, savory red fruits, moss, river rock, and earth. Fresh and lively on the palate, it stays balanced, layered, and silky, with no hard edges. It’s another singular Pinot Noir from this estate that’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and keep for over a decade.
Pinot Noir is the second-most planted grape in Santa Barbara County, just behind Chardonnay. It thrives in cooler areas of the region, namely in the of the Sta. Rita Hills, which is part of Santa Barbara’s larger Santa Ynez Valley sub-appellation. Thought for decades to be too cool for viticulture, Sta. Rita Hills began to gain notoriety in the 1970’s, thanks to the pioneering work of Richard Sandford and Michael Benedict, among others.
Santa Barbara Pinot Noir dances across the palate with vivid red fruit and spice. Precision, bright acidity, elegance and fruit-driven silkiness make Santa Barbara Pinot delightfully enjoyable, whether on their own or with a variety of dishes.
OJAOJAI16PNPM_2016 Item# 532028