Winemaker Notes
Siduri explores two exceptional areas within Santa Barbara County that are exceptionally well-suited for growing Pinot Noir - Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills. Pinot Noirs from the Santa Maria Valley provide "crunchy" fresh fruits that are laden with spice notes, while Pinot Noirs from the Sta. Rita Hills provide opulent fred and black fruits that jump from the glass with tremendous energy. The marriage of these two distinctive growing areas provides a portrait of a beautiful place to grow cool-climate Pinot Noir.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Seamed with saline minerality and fleshed out with mixed cherries and thyme, this silky pinot shows just how detailed appellation-labeled wines from Santa Barbara can be. The finish lingers with brambleberries embraced by tealike tannins, ending on a savory note.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Medium ruby-hued, the 2023 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County reveals exotic red and darker berry fruits intermixed with flowers, spice, and forest underbrush notes. Based on a 50/50 split of two vineyards and aged 10 months in 25% new French oak, it's medium-bodied and has a pure, balanced, elegant mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and outstanding length. This brilliant value in California Pinot Noir.
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.