Etude
Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, California, USA
Lightweight and perfect for Turkey day. Love this vineyard.
Lightweight and perfect for Turkey day. Love this vineyard.
Nov 24th, 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
High alcohol (14.2%) surprisingly well integrated, but this is still a very Napa expression of Santa Rita Hills - smoky, spicy, with ripe black fruits. Good, but I'd prefer some restraint.
High alcohol (14.2%) surprisingly well integrated, but this is still a very Napa expression of Santa Rita Hills - smoky, spicy, with ripe black fruits. Good, but I'd prefer some restraint.
Sep 11th, 2016
Earth, leather, pepper. Light body but full flavor.
Earth, leather, pepper. Light body but full flavor.
Mar 12th, 2017
Lots of blackberry and tobacco in this one. Pretty tight even after a proper decanting. My exactly my jam when it comes to pinots, but not bad either.
Lots of blackberry and tobacco in this one. Pretty tight even after a proper decanting. My exactly my jam when it comes to pinots, but not bad either.
Jul 28th, 2016
Love it!! Delicious Pinot at a great price point
Love it!! Delicious Pinot at a great price point
May 31st, 2016
"quaffable" but uninspiring. Ok for a weekday bottle.
"quaffable" but uninspiring. Ok for a weekday bottle.
Mar 3rd, 2016
Fragrant nose, lots of currant, blackberry and a touch of tobacco. Very smooth; good with filet but also not too harsh for lobster.
Fragrant nose, lots of currant, blackberry and a touch of tobacco. Very smooth; good with filet but also not too harsh for lobster.
Feb 14th, 2016