Winemaker Notes
A blend of amazing Pinot Noir vineyards from within and around the Sta. Rita Hills. These vines are carefully tended to maximize flavor. Once harvested the grapes are all fermented in small lots with an emphasis on body and aroma.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This county cuvée starts complex, offering struck flint, raspberry, dried cranberry, hibiscus and cinnamon on the nose. There’s a quick snap of acidity on the palate, where subtle cherry, turned earth and sagebrush flavors align.
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.