This is the jewel in Byron’s Pinot crown. It’s from the two very best rows of the oldest Pinot vines in the Santa Maria Valley, planted in 1970.
Outstanding reviews from the Wine Advocate, Wine enthusiast and Dunnuck. But the winery describes what makes this so special best:
Home to Santa Barbara’s oldest Pinot Noir vines, Julia’s Vineyard was first planted between 1970 and 1971 on the site of the original Tepusquet Vineyard. Its location is directly in the path of the cooling ocean wines and fog that funnel through the valley, further extending the hang time and flavor development of these prized older vines. Our 2014 Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir displays a complexity not often seen in Pinot Noir. The palate contains familiar bright cherry and floral notes marked by a unique cotton seed signature and tremendous structure for aging. Rich and textured, the finish trails away with a slight touch of smoke.
A lot of wineries would use the inherent old vine concentration and sappiness (what the French call sevé) to make a “big” Pinot Noir. But Byron has chosen to make a beautiful one.
