Sea Smoke
Southing Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, California, USA
Purity of red fruits, cherry cola and lavender…ripe fruit and bright acidity with great finish….
Purity of red fruits, cherry cola and lavender…ripe fruit and bright acidity with great finish….
Jun 13th, 2021
A longtime friend visited us today at our rental property. We have an annual Christmas tradition of me giving him a bottle of Pinot and a coffee cake (homage to my mother’s Christmas coffee cake) and he shares his allocation of Sea Smoke. He gave us this bottle awhile back and a 2015 Southing today. In honor of our tradition, we are enjoying this 2010 tonight.
The nose reveals; mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries hovering on the edge of the glass, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, light, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers.
The body is round, full, lush and velvety. It glides beautifully over the palate. The 2010 is around its peak with 5-8 years of good drinking ahead. She is an elegant beauty. The tension, structure, length and balance are in a great place for many but, I think even better in 2-3 years. Mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries haunting the secondary fruits, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, menthol, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, perfect, dark spice with just the right amount of palate heat, clove, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers. The acidity is nearly perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The long finish is a darling, elegant, sexy, beauty with great balance & polish polish for days that slides into a spicy, round & drier, tarry, tannin presence that persists minutes.
Photos of; two of their single vineyard Pinot’s, branded barrel and Winemaker- Victor Gallegos.
A longtime friend visited us today at our rental property. We have an annual Christmas tradition of me giving him a bottle of Pinot and a coffee cake (homage to my mother’s Christmas coffee cake) and he shares his allocation of Sea Smoke. He gave us this bottle awhile back and a 2015 Southing today. In honor of our tradition, we are enjoying this 2010 tonight.
The nose reveals; mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries hovering on the edge of the glass, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, light, dark spice, clove, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers.
The body is round, full, lush and velvety. It glides beautifully over the palate. The 2010 is around its peak with 5-8 years of good drinking ahead. She is an elegant beauty. The tension, structure, length and balance are in a great place for many but, I think even better in 2-3 years. Mulberries, boysenberries, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, fresh & dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries haunting the secondary fruits, steeped fruit teas, touch smoke & soft grilled meats, subtle, sweet, tarry notes, dark, rich soils, dark chocolate, limestone, crush, dry rocks, understated caramel/mocha notes, bay leaf, soft sage, menthol, dry stems, dark, fruit licorice, perfect, dark spice with just the right amount of palate heat, clove, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, hints of vanillin, barrel char with fresh & withering, slightly candied, dark, red, blue & purple flowers. The acidity is nearly perfect & holds back the slightly higher ABV. The long finish is a darling, elegant, sexy, beauty with great balance & polish polish for days that slides into a spicy, round & drier, tarry, tannin presence that persists minutes.
Photos of; two of their single vineyard Pinot’s, branded barrel and Winemaker- Victor Gallegos.
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.
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
Decent Pinot Noir, but I prefer IH.
Decent Pinot Noir, but I prefer IH.
Sep 10th, 2023
Consumed during a virtual happy hour via Zoom while sheltering in place
Consumed during a virtual happy hour via Zoom while sheltering in place
Mar 29th, 2020
I’ve heard good things about this wine for years. Didn’t want to open it too young, and it didn’t disappoint. Has many years ahead of it. Glad I have more in waiting.
I’ve heard good things about this wine for years. Didn’t want to open it too young, and it didn’t disappoint. Has many years ahead of it. Glad I have more in waiting.
Feb 15th, 2020