Sanford & Benedict

California Pinot Noir

9.34 ratings
9.22 pro ratings
California, USA
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.0

Cool to try, but not a great wine sadly. Accad style- too rich for me.

Cool to try, but not a great wine sadly. Accad style- too rich for me.

Sep 21st, 2025
Scott T

VP/Senior Wine Specialist Christie's

9.3

Historical vintage for a Central Coast Pinot Noir pioneer.
First vintage. Winery planted vines in 1971.
This bottle: 1.5cm ullage, 12.1% alc
A fantastic example of early Pinot Noir clones used in Santa Ynez/SB County. Wine is still lively, beautiful color. Aromas and Flavors not maderized at all. Great balance and a touch spicy. What a pleasurable education for me. I've never come across it before in 20yrs

Historical vintage for a Central Coast Pinot Noir pioneer.
First vintage. Winery planted vines in 1971.
This bottle: 1.5cm ullage, 12.1% alc
A fantastic example of early Pinot Noir clones used in Santa Ynez/SB County. Wine is still lively, beautiful color. Aromas and Flavors not maderized at all. Great balance and a touch spicy. What a pleasurable education for me. I've never come across it before in 20yrs

Sep 24th, 2014
Xander Soren

Lovely unicorn bottle. The 1976 Sanford and Benedict is one of their earliest bottling, and reminds me of an old Kyoto ryokan—Smokey with savory umami notes of nori & shiitake and a surprising amount of fruit for a 45+ year old bottle. Such a treat,

Lovely unicorn bottle. The 1976 Sanford and Benedict is one of their earliest bottling, and reminds me of an old Kyoto ryokan—Smokey with savory umami notes of nori & shiitake and a surprising amount of fruit for a 45+ year old bottle. Such a treat,

Oct 18th, 2020
Conrad Green

Amber edges. A touch of Va- iron, a whiff of Madeira. Amazing fruit given the age and the age of the vines (3 years then). Deep cherry and underbrush. A dark gnarly quality... a touch of aged Rhone in character. The first wine made at S&B and not a commercial release. Holding up really well. A real treat

Amber edges. A touch of Va- iron, a whiff of Madeira. Amazing fruit given the age and the age of the vines (3 years then). Deep cherry and underbrush. A dark gnarly quality... a touch of aged Rhone in character. The first wine made at S&B and not a commercial release. Holding up really well. A real treat

Apr 1st, 2018