Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Ojai Santa Barbara Pinot Noir opens with beautiful flower aromas, with wafts of spring bulbs and dried roses. Other scents of woody herbs drive the botanical expression further. Fruit is certainly not quiet though; the palate is primed with fresh red berries and sweet cherry, with a sneaky dark mushroom streak that's savory and satisfying.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and elegant scents of black tea leaves, cola, forest floor and red and black cherry fruits. The palate is light to medium-bodied and silky in texture with layers of earth, fruit and citrusy accents, finishing long.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County has a pretty, pure, medium-bodied, almost understated style that carries classy cherry and strawberry fruits, a touch of stemmy herbs and spice, light tannins, and beautiful overall balance. It's a classic, elegant Pinot Noir to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.
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.