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93
/ 100
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Red
Classification
Pinot Noir
Variety
2020
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
USA
Country
California, Santa Barbara
Region
14.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
93 / 100"The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills incorporates about 50% estate fruit and was made with destemmed fruit this vintage and bottled a bit earlier than other vintages. Medium ruby-purple, it has pretty scents of rhubarb, blueberries and tea leaves with savory notes of pipe tobacco, flint and woodsmoke. The medium-bodied palate is delicate, bright and chalky with perfumed fruits and a long, floral finish."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasting Notes
Sourced mostly from our Domaine de la Côte estate (83%), the blend is buttressed by old vines fruit from the Patterson Vineyard (11%) and the Casa Cassara Vineyard (6%). The wine was fermented 30% whole bunches and raised in neutral barrels for 14 months. This brightly coloured wine is brimming with high-toned aromatics and an undercurrent of dark plum. Tinged with a marine-influenced savoury note on the finish, the wine possesses purity of flavour and well-integrated tannins.
Californian Pinot that hits the high notes, in terms of both general quality and flavour - it is boisterous, flavour-filled but even a little fine-boned (for US Pinot..)
These finer edge qualities are no surprise as the majority of the fruit is from the Domaine de la Cote estate vineyards, home to some of the country's rarest and most high-toned Pinots.
Beetroot, cherry and plum flavours are most in evidence along with a developing gamey, autumnal note that will develop further in time.
A contradictory Pinot of purity and depth.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity