Winemaker Notes
This wine has exhibiting flavors and aromas of black cherry, strawberry, violets and black tea. This is the perfect red for light lunches on the patio, lazy afternoons picnicking in the shade or an evening of hors d’oeuvres and aperitiffs at the bistro.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
From portions of the Burning Creek and Lafond Vineyards, this fruit-forward wine is a solid deal, starting with strong aromas of black cherry, licorice and nutmeg. It's a full-flavored Pinot Noir that currently shows a rather tense structure, carrying flavors of black raspberry, boysenberry and black pepper.
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.