Winemaker Notes
The Mae Estate vineyard is located above Highway 246, the northern corridor of the Sta. Rita Hills. Just fifteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, Mae is host to ocean winds and fog and comprised of marine sedimentary soils.
To host their Pinot Noir, Tyler Winery chose the clay-rich grounds east and upslope from their Chardonnay—and planted at half the density of Burgundy (two meters between rows, one meter between vines) to promote a balanced crop and to cater to organic cultivation practices.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Blackberry and strawberry with forest floor and bark aromas. Oyster shell. Some hibiscus. Full-bodied and juicy. Tight, fine and chewy tannins. Excellent length. Needs time to come together. From young vines. Impressive.?
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Pinot Noir Mae Estate is very pretty and very easy to drink! The nose features savory red cherries and cranberries with nuances of tobacco leaves, mushroom powder, incense and charcuterie. The medium-bodied palate is soft, refreshing and perfumed with concentrated yet detailed flavors, and it boasts a very long, layered finish.
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.