SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

The 2020 Pinot Noir shows delicate red fruit, sage, and rose petal aromatics. Cherry, savory spice, and orange peel round out the flavors. Vibrant acidity, and partial stem inclusion provide structure throughout, leading to a long and savory finish. Though this wine should age gracefully for years to come, it is made to be enjoyable in its youth.

Reviews

Vinous  91 points ~ The 2020 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is a very pretty wine. All the fruit is from Kick On, where sandy soils lend aromatic lift and savory presence that is further accented by the 25% whole clusters. Bright red berry fruit, rose petal, sage, lavendar and mint are some of the notes that grace this exquisite, translucent Pinot. Drinking window 2022-2030. — Antonio Galloni

Jeb Dunnuck  90 points ~ Showing some stems on the nose with its peppery herbs, forest floor, and subtle, almost nutty nuances, the 2020 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant texture, beautiful black raspberry-like fruit, and a great finish. It's another outstanding effort from this team.

Wine Enthusiast  93 points ~ Review to be published in October 2022 issue.

2019 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

Jeb Dunnuck  93 points ~ The 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County comes from the Fiddlestix and Duvarita vineyards. Offering a wonderful array of ripe red currants, framboise, spice, flowers, and hints of marine-like nuances, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a round, elegant texture, impressive fruit, and a great finish. This beauty has ample, classic Santa Barbara freshness and purity as well as pure, ripe, seductive fruit. It's well worth checking out, and I suspect it will keep for 4-5 years, although there's no need to hold off either. Maturity 2021-2026. — Jeb Dunnuck

2018 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

Jeb Dunnuck  90 points ~ The 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County comes from the Duvarita and Fiddlestix vineyards and was 50% destemmed and aged in 14% new French oak. Deeper ruby/plum-hued with lots of darker fruits, leafy herbs, smoked earth, and peppery notes, it's medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant texture, present tannins, and a good finish. I think it will be even better this time next year and should drink nicely for 4-5 years. Maturity 2020-2025. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  91 points ~ The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is laced with the essence of crushed raspberry, blood orange, dried herbs, mint and spice. The aromatics alone are beguiling, but there is plenty of fruit and textural richness as well, all in a mid-weight style that is so appealing. This is such a pretty wine. Bright saline accents add vibrancy, especially on the finish. Drinking window 2020-2028. — Antonio Galloni

2017 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

Vinous  92 points ~ The 2017 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is rich, open-knit and super-expressive. The dark red and purplish fruit flavors get an extra kick of aromatic intensity from 25% whole clusters, an approach that works brilliantly. Rich, layered and super-expressive, the 2017 is a winner, not to mention a real overachiever in its peer group. The appellation Pinot is mostly from Duvarita, with a few barrels of Fiddlestix. Drink 2019-2029. — Antonio Galloni

Jeb Dunnuck  92 points ~ The 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County comes from two sites in the Sta. Rita Hills, Duvarita (technically in Santa Barbara County) and Fiddlestix. Fermented with 25% stems and aged in 20% new oak, it has a ruby/plum color as well as a spicy, stem-laced bouquet of black cherries, cranberries, orange blossom, violets, and earth. It's juicy, has bright acidity (there's more acidity in this cuvée compared to the single vineyard release), beautiful fruit, and is a rock-solid value play in high-quality Pinot Noir. — Jeb Dunnuck