Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Matured for 10 months in 25% new French oak, the 2021 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County has a medium garnet color and broody scents of blackberries, mushrooms, mossy bark and brewed black tea. The medium-bodied palate has a concentrated core of earthy fruit, silky tannins, bright acidity and a long finish laced with floral perfume.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is an up-front, total charmer offering attractive red and black cherry fruit, some spicy, herbal nuances, medium body, and a soft, elegant texture.
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Wine Enthusiast
Toasted spices and herbs give depth to the plush black-cherry aromas on the nose of this county-wide cuvée. Roasted cherry, mace and star anise flavors align on the engaging palate.
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.