Santa Barbara County
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This 2015 sangiovese comes from the rolling hills of White Hawk vineyard, which is a big vine-covered sand dune up in the hills north of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County. White Hawk has always provided fruit with lots of personality—we’ve seen that for over a decade with our syrah that comes off this site. For a few years I passed by the sangiovese block enroute to our syrah and thought “hey, that looks cool.” In 2010 I had the chance and jumped on board with the sangiovese, which appeared first as part of our Apricots blend in 2010 and then as a varietal bottling in 2011, and it’s been a tasting room favorite ever since!
This 2015 does a great job of hitting the ground running with drinkability. While the previous 2014 rendition is demanding another couple years in bottle, this 2015 is already strutting its stuff with a gorgeous floral profile and an open, lively mouthfeel. Expect a certain prettiness—with dried violets and rose petals galore—balanced with more primal aromas of tobacco, saddle and dusty earth.
It’s a different take on sangiovese than the more weighty Brunellos, for instance, which are generally made in a more oxidative and extracted style, and take many years of bottle aging to jell into good form. With sangiovese I strive to preserve a juicy freshness, along with just enough tannic punch to nod to the grape’s origins. It’s so versatile with food this way, with year-round appeal at the dinner table. And though this wine drinks well now I have no doubt it will age gracefully for a long time, and will probably begin cresting in about 10 years.
Blend: 100% Sangiovese | Alc: 12.5% | Vinification: traditional open top fermentation | Barrel Aging: 15 monts in older French oak | Total Production: 181 cases
Press Reviews
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“The 2015 Sangiovese White Hawk Vineyard is a gorgeous wine. Although not especially varietal, the 2015 possesses terrific depth and overall intensity. The flavors are bright, nuanced and delineated, and plenty of red-toned fruit runs through the wine’s midweight frame. The Sangiovese is often one of the hidden gems in the Ojai range, as it is once again this year” – AG 93 points
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Sweet cherries, spice and dried herbs all define the 2015 Sangiovese White Hawk, and it’s charming, medium-bodied, supple and elegant, with light tannin. It’s an enjoyable red to drink over the coming 4-7 years.”- JD
