Winemaker Notes
Tyler Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is comprised of fruit from various high quality vineyard sites throughout the appellation. This bottling is intended to provide great value and representation, while keeping focus on quality and typicity. This is a structured, yet approachable, Pinot Noir with bright acidity, red fruits and a natural savoriness.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate, a blend of Fiddlestix and Mae, boasts a citrusy profile with a distinctly herbaceous edge. Elegant and textural, it offers lift and clarity in a delicate frame. Pomegranate, leather, stemmy herbs and white pepper shape the finish. Light on its feet yet supported by fine structure, the 2023 is a charming, slightly old-school red.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir opens with aromas of red cherry, blueberry, rhubarb and touches of dried tobacco. On the palate, it is silky, precise and savory, concluding with a juicy core of staining bright fruits with earthy touches, lifted acidity and gently drying tannins. It's a classic, tried-and-true overview of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir.
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.