Winemaker Notes
The wine has evolved beautifully during its first year in bottle. The whole cluster greenery has mellowed into a sage-y aromatic gauze, showing plenty of site-typical scents of peat, cherries, citrus and exotic spice. The palate is full of minerals, cherry and strawberry, and shows a mouthwatering thread of plum skin. It's supple and gently salty (per usual for this Pinot), then the stems enhance the spicy clench and seem to lengthen the wine a bit, too. This 2017 bottling will continue to emerge over the next couple of years, and will continue to emerges over the next couple of years, and will hit 10 years in great stride.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A standout in the lineup, the 2017 Pinot Noir Puerta Del Mar Vineyard comes from a cold, coastal site and offers stunning strawberry and cherry fruits intermixed with hints of spice, stems, and peppery herbs. Medium-bodied, silky, and just beautifully textured and seamless, it’s ideal for drinking anytime over the coming 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.