Winemaker Notes
In the 2017 vintage, the John Sebastiano Vineyard, on the steep slopes running along the Eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, benefited from being an early ripening site. Siduri picked all the fruit here prior to the Labor Day heat spike during the aforementioned cooler days of August. And it is a good thing that they did, as the John Sebastiano Vineyard continues to have some of the smallest berries of any of their vineyards and they likely wouldn’t have survived two days at 110 degrees. By snatching this fruit off the vines early Siduri was able to preserve not only the quality of the fruit, but also the character of the site. The resulting wine shows great red fruit character, with an earthiness in the background that comes from the steep slopes and also a bit of a tannic edge that should allow it to age well for a few years. Ripe, rich and concentrated, don’t be afraid to open it now, but serve it with some food, or hold it back for a couple of years and be extremely happy with what you have!
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Reminding me of a Côte de Nuit with its darker berry fruits, earth, blood orange, and spice-driven aromas and flavors, the 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is medium-bodied, has a beautiful, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Completely destemmed and brought up in 40% new French oak, this seamless, polished, beautifully balanced Pinot Noir will keep for over a decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is pale to medium ruby-purple with a nose of black and red cherries, crushed stone, licorice and cranberry with touches of potpourri and warm earth. The palate is light to medium-bodied with concentrated, energetic spice-laced fruits seamlessly framed by grainy tannins and juicy freshness and finishing long and flavorful. 538 cases produced.
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.