Winemaker Notes
The 2020 Rusack Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir is a wonderful expression of what this area's cooler climate wines can be. Packed with bright juicy notes of strawberries, raspberries, and caramel, this wine also has subtle hints of orange meringue. Firm acidity and an elegant balance make for a very approachable, food friendly wine.
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.