Sea Smoke

Southing Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

9.22 ratings
9.22 pro ratings
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, 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
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The wine made famous by the movie “Sideways” in 2004. After the movie came out, their bottle price jumped and it was all of sudden hard to find. Marketing!!!

The nose reveals, sweet, slightly sour and ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, blueberries cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and baked strawberries. Big vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, herbaceous notes, mixed berry cola, dark, rich, moist soil, dry clay, dry stone, limestone minerals with dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers.

The body medium full. Tannins nicely resolved but, still have tarry teeth. The structure and tension nicely softened. The 09 is beautifully integrated. The length and balance have hit their high point. Ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, mix of some purple fruits, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and juicy strawberries. Red licorice/cola, good presence of vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, black licorice, herbaceous notes; bay leaf, mint, eucalyptus, dark, rich, moist, soil, clay, river stones, limestone minerals and dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers with violets. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is extremely well balanced, seamless, elegant, rich, persistent for minutes with ripe fruit, medium dark spice that brings some mild heat and haunting fragrant violets for minutes.

Nice development in the last 15-16 months. The 09 Southing has another 3-5 years of good sipping ahead of it.

Photos of, a beautiful mix of clouds, sun and rainy over one of their vineyards, busy hands at the sorting table, Víctor Gallegos-Director of Operations and the soil structure of another vineyard.

The wine made famous by the movie “Sideways” in 2004. After the movie came out, their bottle price jumped and it was all of sudden hard to find. Marketing!!!

The nose reveals, sweet, slightly sour and ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, blueberries cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and baked strawberries. Big vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, herbaceous notes, mixed berry cola, dark, rich, moist soil, dry clay, dry stone, limestone minerals with dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers.

The body medium full. Tannins nicely resolved but, still have tarry teeth. The structure and tension nicely softened. The 09 is beautifully integrated. The length and balance have hit their high point. Ripe; blackberries, some black raspberries, dark cherries, plum, mix of some purple fruits, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranate, candied cherries and juicy strawberries. Red licorice/cola, good presence of vanillin, soft cinnamon stick, touch of clove, dark spice, black licorice, herbaceous notes; bay leaf, mint, eucalyptus, dark, rich, moist, soil, clay, river stones, limestone minerals and dark red, blue fresh & withering flowers with violets. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is extremely well balanced, seamless, elegant, rich, persistent for minutes with ripe fruit, medium dark spice that brings some mild heat and haunting fragrant violets for minutes.

Nice development in the last 15-16 months. The 09 Southing has another 3-5 years of good sipping ahead of it.

Photos of, a beautiful mix of clouds, sun and rainy over one of their vineyards, busy hands at the sorting table, Víctor Gallegos-Director of Operations and the soil structure of another vineyard.

Jan 27th, 2019
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was a very good pair with Hedy’s braised pork neck, dried plums & sweet potato. The 09 Southing was part Burgundian that married well with the plums with red wine /port and the new world in it picked up the cinnamon, clove, star anise, allspice, earl grey tea elements. The nose had the darker red fruits and baking spices. The palate has a nice mix of darker & mid red fruits, hues of blue fruit with light rich dark earth. Really nice bottle evolutional this stage. @ Plate & Bottle. Photos of; one of Sea Smoke’s vineyards, Victor Gallegos Director of Operations, their stainless & barrel room and part of our 40 person group dinner.

This was a very good pair with Hedy’s braised pork neck, dried plums & sweet potato. The 09 Southing was part Burgundian that married well with the plums with red wine /port and the new world in it picked up the cinnamon, clove, star anise, allspice, earl grey tea elements. The nose had the darker red fruits and baking spices. The palate has a nice mix of darker & mid red fruits, hues of blue fruit with light rich dark earth. Really nice bottle evolutional this stage. @ Plate & Bottle. Photos of; one of Sea Smoke’s vineyards, Victor Gallegos Director of Operations, their stainless & barrel room and part of our 40 person group dinner.

Oct 31st, 2017