Etude
Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, California, USA
I think this is my third bottle of this over the last several years. It’s still vigorous and very pure. Nose shows macerated and sappy cherry juice. There’s an interesting slightly roasted herbal note, and lots of crushed stone. In the mouth it’s got a subtle mix of very pure dark cherry fruit and secondary notes. It’s relatively full bodied and gets savory and leaner on the long finish. Nice medium level acids. Such a good wine.
I think this is my third bottle of this over the last several years. It’s still vigorous and very pure. Nose shows macerated and sappy cherry juice. There’s an interesting slightly roasted herbal note, and lots of crushed stone. In the mouth it’s got a subtle mix of very pure dark cherry fruit and secondary notes. It’s relatively full bodied and gets savory and leaner on the long finish. Nice medium level acids. Such a good wine.
Jun 6th, 2024
Lush, soft, bright sweet cherries and lovely savory notes. Nice acidity, showing better than the last bottle.
Lush, soft, bright sweet cherries and lovely savory notes. Nice acidity, showing better than the last bottle.
Jan 1st, 2022
Bright fruit, moderate weight, slightly bitter finish. Acid is a bit out of balance. Nice light touch with the oak.
Bright fruit, moderate weight, slightly bitter finish. Acid is a bit out of balance. Nice light touch with the oak.
Jul 16th, 2021Lightweight and perfect for Turkey day. Love this vineyard.
Lightweight and perfect for Turkey day. Love this vineyard.
Nov 24th, 2017
Both black and red cherry, ripe strawberry, damp earth and Indian spice. M+ acid and body. M tannin. Fruit carries on the palate. Balanced. M+ finish.
Both black and red cherry, ripe strawberry, damp earth and Indian spice. M+ acid and body. M tannin. Fruit carries on the palate. Balanced. M+ finish.
Nov 2nd, 2017
Mushroom, forest-farm, strawberry, cherry, brown spice, very pretty mouthfeel #napawine #carneros producer #santaritahills fruit #deedubcellar
Mushroom, forest-farm, strawberry, cherry, brown spice, very pretty mouthfeel #napawine #carneros producer #santaritahills fruit #deedubcellar
Oct 20th, 2017
The Fiddlestix Vineyard is located at mile marker 7.28 on Santa Rosa Road in Lompoc, California, which is situated in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. In the mid-90's Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars, along with the viticultural icon Taz Steinhauer, acquired the 133-acre, former flower farm, across Santa Rosa Road from the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, and in 1998 they planted 100 acres of Pinot Noir. Aside from the small amount earmarked for Fiddlehead's own production, much of the vineyard is contracted to other producers, including Ampelos, Ancien, Anglim, Arcadian, Bonaccorsi, Dragonette, Jonata, Ken Brown, Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post, Gainey, Ortman, Pali, Paul Lato, Prodigal, RN Estate, Rusack, Summerland, Tyler, Vogelzang, Wedell , and TAZ, not to mention Etude.
Opens with an austere earth note in a tone reminiscent of Barbaresco, and in the words of Miles Raymond, it's "tighter than a nun's ass." 45 minutes later, though, and it's singing and juicy. Black cherry, but not overripe, leads this medium bodied, pungent thinker, while a virtual greenhouse of floral shades help twist and shape its direction. Secondary dusty earth and walnut skin reveal the source of its austerity. True to its terroir, there's a tertiary layer of spice and rocks that provides the depth needed to go from good to great.
The Fiddlestix Vineyard is located at mile marker 7.28 on Santa Rosa Road in Lompoc, California, which is situated in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. In the mid-90's Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars, along with the viticultural icon Taz Steinhauer, acquired the 133-acre, former flower farm, across Santa Rosa Road from the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, and in 1998 they planted 100 acres of Pinot Noir. Aside from the small amount earmarked for Fiddlehead's own production, much of the vineyard is contracted to other producers, including Ampelos, Ancien, Anglim, Arcadian, Bonaccorsi, Dragonette, Jonata, Ken Brown, Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post, Gainey, Ortman, Pali, Paul Lato, Prodigal, RN Estate, Rusack, Summerland, Tyler, Vogelzang, Wedell , and TAZ, not to mention Etude.
Opens with an austere earth note in a tone reminiscent of Barbaresco, and in the words of Miles Raymond, it's "tighter than a nun's ass." 45 minutes later, though, and it's singing and juicy. Black cherry, but not overripe, leads this medium bodied, pungent thinker, while a virtual greenhouse of floral shades help twist and shape its direction. Secondary dusty earth and walnut skin reveal the source of its austerity. True to its terroir, there's a tertiary layer of spice and rocks that provides the depth needed to go from good to great.
Really closed upon opening. It opened a little over time but was never really expressive. Smokey dark fruit and lingering tannins.
Really closed upon opening. It opened a little over time but was never really expressive. Smokey dark fruit and lingering tannins.
Apr 17th, 2017