Winemaker Notes
A smooth and deeply fruited Pinot Noir, the wine enraptures the minute it hits the glass. Its bright red fruit mixes with a hint of plum and spice on the nose. This is a bolder style of Pinot Noir, but it will more than satisfy those who crave nuance and
refinement. The palate is round, soft and harmonious with spicy red cherry intermingling with the right amount of oak. This is truly a best-in-class Pinot Noir.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2020 Pinot Noir has medium-bodied aromas and flavors of darker cherries, dried herbs, and earth in a balanced, polished, incredibly charming style.
The vineyard and winemaking team behind Jonata & The Hilt Estate present The Paring; a focused collection of wines with a goal to craft an honest and delicious bottle of wine for every occasion and table.
o In kitchens around the world, the Paring knife has become a chef’s staple for its versatility. The Paring wines were created with this same intent. Full of vibrance, complexity, and versatility, the wines are a perfect compliment to every occasion.
o The Paring Wines are sourced primarily from our estate vineyards in Ballard Canyon & Santa Rita Hills and trusted vineyards in Northern California to produce wines that are a true expression of classic California style. Blocks from the select vineyards are designated for The Paring ahead of harvest and made with the same intention and care that goes into the wines of Jonata & The Hilt Estate.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
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.