Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir has a pretty nose of candied cherries, sliced blueberries, violet, dark cherries, blackberries and black raspberries with nuances of orange peel and red apple skin. Light to medium-bodied and silky, it offers a good core of fruit with firm, grainy tannins and good freshness, finishing earthy.
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.