Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Proprietor Blair Pence and winemaker Sashi Moorman opened this 2013 Pinot Noir Unum to offer insight into how the Pence wines age. It has mature aromas of dried berries, mushroom powder, tobacco and graphite. The light-bodied palate has a nuanced core of savory flavors, a frame of powdery tannins, vibrant acidity and a long finish.
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.