Winemaker Notes
The 2021 RLH Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir underwent native yeast fermentation in stainless steel open top-fermenters, then drained from tank directly to barrel prior to press. The free run was kept separate before being blended back with the pressed portion to create tannin balance and finesse. The lots were aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels from the TW Boswell and Rousseau cooperages.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A gorgeous pinot with strawberry, cantaloupe and sea shell character. Medium-bodied with a tangy fresh acidity and a long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of bitterness. A crunchy, juicy wine. Shows the real Santa Rita Hills character.
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Wine Enthusiast
Cherry and berry aromas are layered in sage sticks, peppercorn and loamy soil on the nose of this bottling, which sports a visually stunning nautilus label. The palate picks up a smoked berry flavor, indicative of oak aging.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.