Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Another unique, intriguing and delicious bottling by Ernst Storm, this shows damp garden herbs, wild cranberry fruit, kelpy seashore, light white sage, grain fields, flecks of dill and dried rose buds on the nose. The sizzling palate starts with crushed pencils and then dances through underripe raspberry fruit into fresh herbs, showing a distinct note of hops.
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Wine & Spirits
Given the warmth of the 2014 vintage, Ernst Storm decided to pick the fruit from this vineyard unusually early, on August 14. He seemed to have caught the grapes at ideal ripeness - grown in a sandy soil, the own-rooted vines at Presqu'ile yielded a supremely delicate and lacy pinot noir. It's a quiet wine, but it commands attention with aromas of lavender and wintergreen that sound a cool note despite the hot, dry weather. It finishes with energetic acidity more than tannins, a sensation like pomegranate seeds bursting on the tongue. Drink it with pan-seared halibut or sea bass.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.