Winemaker Notes
The 2014 vintage is the final in a string of three, large crop, early ripening vintages in California. Seemingly, each vintage has ripened earlier and earlier while producing substantially larger than normal yields. Fortunately, these larger yields have slowed down the ripening process, allowing the grapes to get a normal amount of time on the vines, even if the season is an early one. The winery did think it was especially important to spend more time in the vineyards as harvest approached, as the vines did show signs of the drought near the end of the season.
Vegan
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Pressed boysenberry aromas highlight simultaneously dark and fresh fruit on the nose of this bottling by Adam Lee, which also conveys Earl Grey tea, lavender, hibiscus and crushed pencils. The palate picks up the same tack, offering delicate fruits and florals, from cranberry to elderflower.
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Wine Spectator
Pleasantly rich and elegant without being weighty, with plum, blueberry and blackberry flavors accented by spice and light oak hints. An exciting and enjoyable style. Drink now. 688 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.