Santa Barbara County
After two years of absence the Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir returns. 2010 and 2011 were two cool growing seasons in which the vines had trouble setting a decent crop, so we didn’t have enough extra to make a county blend. 2012 was completely different—the weather was fine and the vines responded with a bountiful harvest.
Since 2005 we have been experimenting with when to pick our pinot noir. I slowly realized we were missing something if the fruit got too ripe. Yes, riper fruit produces bigger, thicker wines but at the expense of aroma and freshness, and aroma is what pinot noir is all about. That realization was reinforced in 2010 and 2011 when the weather forced our hand and we harvested all of our fruit at lower sugar levels. The result from those two unusual years was a revelation—the pinot noirs were so lively and had extraordinarily perfumed aromas. We felt compelled to repeat what had learned in those years and carefully harvested everything in 2012 at just the right level of ripeness to capture the most aromatic essence of the fruit.
What we crafted is a pinot noir that has a beautiful garnet color and an aroma of fruits and flowers and earth that really is expressive. The flavors are fresh and full bodied and it finishes with just the right level of juicy tannins. This pinot is young but displays a deliciousness and drinkability that makes it easy to have a second glass…
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir | Vineyards: 61% Kick On Ranch, 17% Solomon Hills and 22% Bien Nacido | AVA: Sta. Rita Hills | Alcohol: 13.5% | Vinification: 30% New French Oak | Barrel Aging: 11 Months | Total Production: 724 Cases