Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Suerte Solomon Hills Vineyard comes from a great vineyard just west of Bien Nacido and spent 17 months in 60% new French oak. Lots of black raspberries, spiced cherries, salty sea breeze, flowers, orange blossom, and violet notes emerge from the glass, and it's beautifully textured, full-bodied, and incredibly sexy on the palate. It's stunning today yet will evolve for upwards of a decade.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Pinot Noir Suerte Solomon Hills Vineyard has a nose of smoked cranberries, blackberries, aniseed and dried citrus peel with spicy and earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate is satiny, fresh and soft with bursts of spicy, floral accents and a long, saline-tinged finish.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.