Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Pinot Noir is blooming with floral notes of dried fruit and raspberry. Light in body with vibrant strawberry fruit and wet stone. Fulfilled with sweet oak and a touch of cedar.
Delicious with a rich duck confit, and curly endive, radicchio, minced apple and arugula salad.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A bit shy on the nose at first, this bottling eventually releases pleasant tones of purple flowers, black raspberries and delicate rose buds. Light red-plum flavors meet with sandalwood, crushed herbs and a pinch of pepper on the palate.
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.