Winemaker Notes
Gorgeous dried red fruits such as strawberry ride atop a slight undercurrent of vanillin and wet stone on the nose. Cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, sage, and cedar satiate the palate. Soft, but present tannins lightly hug the mouth the moment this plush wine touches the taste buds.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Rounded, plush and full of dark fruit, this medium-bodied wine is almost sweet in its appeal. Blueberries, black cherries and good hints of vanilla and cinnamon on moderate tannins. Very drinkable and smooth.
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.