Winemaker Notes
Gorgeous, bright aromas of fresh cherry, alpine strawberries, spice cake, white pepper, and roses. The very seductive aromas inform the palate which is supple, serious, and wonderfully fresh. The 2019 will pair better with heartier, more savory fare and although charming now, it will continue to improve over the next several years.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes mainly from younger vines in the Sanford & Benedict (44%) and La Rinconada (56%) vineyards planted to a wide range of clonal selections. Pale ruby-purple, it's scented of red and black berries, orange peel, forest floor and bitters. The palate is open and spicy, with a silky texture, refreshing acidity and a touch of classy baking spice from its 11 months in 25% new French oak. It's a bright, pure style this vintage and excellent quality for an appellation bottling.
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.