2017 Sta. Rita Hills

The Sta. Rita Hills is a spe­cial AVA, ide­al­ly suit­ed for Pinot Noir because of a com­bi­na­tion of poor marine-based sandy loam soils, ele­vat­ed cal­ci­um in the soil and the Paci­fic’s cool­ing influ­ence through fog and wind. This bot­ting is a blend of dis­tinct vine­yard sites and clones from three loca­tions in Sta. Rita Hills, each site dis­play­ing its own char­ac­ter. When com­bined these sites cre­ate a ter­rif­ic exam­ple of the diver­si­ty in the AVA. Aged in 50% new French oak for 15 months, this medi­um-ruby col­ored Pinot Noir express­es black cher­ry, con­cen­trat­ed plum, spicy cedar, chewy firm tan­nins, zesty acid­i­ty, adding up to a long per­sis­tent fin­ish. Viva­cious fruit and spice dri­ve this focused Sta. Rita Hills AVA blend of Pinot Noir. As you sip, this mod­er­ate bod­ied wine shows rich notes of red fruit, ros­es, and exot­ic spices open. The fin­ish boasts notes of bri­ar spice, cacao pow­der and red clay.

92 pts. Jeb Dunnuck