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Tasting Notes
This Pinot Noir is bright and cheery with aromas and flavors of lifted red berry fruits, red plums and Bing cherry, alongside notes of ripe nectarine and golden peach. Layers of sweet baking spice notes come through from the well-integrated oak, with nuances of cinnamon and clove, all framed by a lithe texture with vibrant acidity, great balance and a lengthy mouthwatering finish. This Pinot has substance and complexity, making it very appealing to drink now, and also promises much more to come.Technical Information
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Volume | 750mL |
| Appellation | Santa Rita Hills |
| Alcohol % | 14.1% |
Scores & Accolades
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95JamesSuckling.com - “Extremely floral with lemon blossom, sliced orange and slightly under-ripe strawberry. Cranberry. Medium to full body. Linear and energetic with a fine and long tannin structure.” - James Suckling, August 2021
Winemaking
The grapes for this wine were harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity. They were placed in open-top fermenters for 3-5 days of cold maceration followed by fermentation. A small percentage of the grapes were left as whole cluster to preserve the buoyancy of aromatics of the fruit and to add structure and refinement to the wine. Punch downs were performed during the early stages of fermentation with the extraction becoming gentler as the wine became dry, and followed with a quiet extended maceration to help modify the richness and mouthfeel of the wine. The wine was lightly pressed into small French oak barrels where it rested for 12 months.Vintage
Despite some memorably atypical factors, 2020 is considered one of the best vintages in Santa Barbara County yet. It was a warm, dry winter, with rain and cooler weather arriving at the end of March. While the mild spring provided a great early start, the winery followed extensive safety protocols due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Summer brought very cool mornings and very warm days with strong bud break and flowering. Optimal temperatures and a lack of spring rain and wind produced full fruit clusters with a high juice-to-skin ratio. Four unusual heatwaves encouraged robust flavor development and a lush, ripe palate. Harvest was interrupted by wildfires across California, but our vineyards were not in active fire areas and did not sustain damage. Yields were slightly lower than average, but grape quality was very good, with optimal flavor development and little to no impact from the heat spikes.