Dunnigan Hills, Central Valley

Sanford

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2020

Blend from estate vineyards; Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (~44%) and La Rinconada (~56%), changes a bit year/year, aged 11 months in 27% new French oak, light Ruby color with aromas of tart fruit, spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and cranberry with white flower notes and an array of spices. Fine dusty tannins, long finish ending with fresh fruit, spice and earthy tones. Good now! — 14 days ago

Paul, Juan and 1 other liked this

Brewer-Clifton

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022

John Howard
9.0

Pretty and light. Great nose. Not very concentrated. Glycerin. — 18 days ago

Tom, Ray and 12 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2019

Probably one of the nicest surprises this year. Got to taste this again and great to remember how blown away I was by its peculiar Burgundian style. Notes of wet leafs, forest floor, mushroom, earth, fresh sunkissed cherries, roses. Immediately knew what to expect on the palate. Cheers. — a month ago

Ted, Juan and 16 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Good one! Cheers!
Steven Phillips

Steven Phillips

I believe they’ve been bought by a PE firm and have vastly expanded their skus. Spread to thin in my opinion. However, their old school labels still deliver.
Ericsson

Ericsson

They are owned by Duckhorn Portafolio who bought them from PE firm. Duckhorn as a whole was just bought last week.

Sea Smoke

Ten Estate Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2011

Black cherry, sage, and sandalwood aromas accompany the cherry, pomegranate, and spice palate. Medium full bodied with excellent balance. In a great spot now. — 4 days ago

Shay and Scott@Mister liked this

Domaine de la Côte

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Earthy with pretty aromas of delicate berries, herbs and exotic citrus fruits. Some tannins and fairly full bodied. — 8 days ago

Andrew liked this

Domaine de la Côte

La Côte Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021

“La Côte” of Domaine de la Côte is a DREAMY Pinot Noir from the Santa Rita Hills AVA of California’s Central Coast region.

Here pacific coastal breezes stretch inland and cool the sun-soaked vineyards. Domaine de la Côte has a collection of 6 vineyards on the western edge of Santa Rita Hills. On the back label you see a map of several of their vineyard blocks, including “La Côte” which is organically-farmed and nestled on a steep southeast-facing slope, where it absorbs the radiant sun during the growing season.

The grapes that went into this wine were harvested by hand, cluster-by-cluster, affording a gentler handling of the fruit with reduced risk of oxidation and microbial spoilage.

This wine was then fermented in a concrete vessel using 100% whole clusters (stems and all) thanks to the process of wild, ambient yeasts in the vineyard, winery, and on the skin of the berries…

The result is a positively perfumed and pristine berry-fruited profile with concentrated notes of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, boysenberry, hibiscus, rosewater, cherry blossom, and anise balanced by a firm backbone of acidity and reserved alcoholic profile (13.1% ABV).

Following fermentation, this wine matured for 10 months in oak (30% new oak), lending delicate secondary notes of vanilla, clove, and cardamom.

The Domaine de la Côte “Bloom’s Field” was among the wines featured in the Somm 3 movie; it was blind tasted next to other French and California wines in a 2018 retake of the 1976 Judgement of Paris that culminated in a tasting of wines by a panel of luminaries of the wine world: Fred Dame, Jancis Robinson, and the late, great Steven Spurrier, who organized the Judgment of Paris back in 1976.

It is a captivating wine and has the structure to age, though we are loving it in its current state. It’s a delicious pairing with the herb-crusted salmon, roasted asparagus, and crème fraiche / chive mashed potatoes.

Cheers!

— a month ago

Deked1
with Deked1
Deked1, Jay and 15 others liked this

Sanford

Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018

Med ruby, smooth tannic, med acidity, med body, fresh, raspberry, hint of red cherry, oak, earthy, Tobacco, vanilla,med finish , 13.5% , very good quality — 8 days ago

Liquid Farm

Four Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2022

2022 vintage opened in 2024. Should have been more patient, but it was delightful young. Apple, lemon, with light caramel. — 6 days ago

Sea Smoke

Southing Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir

Old Faithful….never disappoints. — 11 days ago

Drew Chicone
with Drew

Domaine de la Côte

Bloom's Field Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022

Second time tasting this wine. Still not convinced. Too hyped. But starting slightly better than last. — a month ago

Andrew, John and 14 others liked this