Winemaker Notes
This is one of three small picks off of the John Sebastiano vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. It represents the best of the best. Grown on steep slopes 800 feet above sea level, this wine has extreme cut and verve. It is the first of my Grüner Veltliners to receive extended aging in the winery and is well worth the wait. A wine for Sommeliers and Foodies alike.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Grüner Veltliner John Sebastiano is phenomenal. What a wine! Rich, ample and explosive, the 2021 captivates all the senses with its dynamic personality. Aromatic and deep, with tremendous resonance, the 2021 is so impressive. Ripe orchard fruit, lemon confit, marzipan, dried flowers and chamomile build into the explosive finish. Wind during flowering caused significant shatter and lowered yields by a whopping 70%. The wine that was made, well it is truly exceptional.
Fun to say and delightfully easy to drink, Grüner Veltliner calls Austria its homeland. While some easily quaffable Grüners come in a one-liter—a convenient size—many high caliber single vineyard bottlings can benefit from cellar aging. Somm Secret—About 75% of the world’s Grüner Veltliner comes from Austria but the variety is gaining ground in other countries, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.
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.