Wine Advocate 90 Points:
The 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County was sourced from multiple sites across the county and aged in 5% new French oak. Pale to medium ruby, it has a perfumed nose of violet, tangerine peel, Earl Grey tea leaves, crushed blackberries, cranberries, rhubarb, woodsmoke and pipe tobacco with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is light to medium-bodied with a good core of earthy fruit framed by grainy tannins and great freshness, finishing earthy.
The Winery says:
This wine comes from the three major Pinot Noir growing regions within Santa Barbara County, each of which is influenced by unique soil types and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Santa Maria Valley, one of California’s coolest AVAs with well-drained soils and one of the longest growing seasons in the world, brings pretty aromatics and red fruit flavors to the wine. Slightly warmer in climate, the Los Alamos area contributes ripe dark fruit flavors. Just south of Santa Maria Valley and Los Alamos, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, characterized by steep vineyard slopes and a distinct gravel minerality, adds power, depth and austere tannin expression.
This wine has an elegant bouquet of black cherry, tea leaf, a slight caramel note, and some lighter more lifted red fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine has a density and weight to it that gives a luxurious mouthfeel with more flavors of red fruit, earth, and a savory quality that demands another sip.
Which is actually a pretty dead on description.
Currently, the Wine Advocate’s top-rated California Pinot at its price…and deservedly so.