Winemaker Notes
A brooding and intense wine. The aromas begin with notes of ground cacao, raspberry and Friar plum, followed by a mix of spices and a hint of lavender. Firm, mature tannins, evidence of Ten's ageability, are followed by a long, velvety finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Ten is rich and forward, leaning into the riper side of the spectrum. Elevated notes of iodine, tart berries, chalk and tobacco bring complexity, while cedar and oak spice shape the finish. This remains a powerful wine that will benefit from a bit of time in bottle.
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Wine Spectator
This sports flashy notes of singed anise and black tea that liberally infuse a core of dark cherry and boysenberry puree. The polished finish echoes with a fruitcake hint as the showy fruit lingers. Drink now through 2030. 9,000 cases made.
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.