VINEYARD Bentrock, Radian, John Sebastiano, Hilliard Bruce, Rita’s Crown, Mt. Carmel
CLONES 667, 777, 115, 2A, Swan, 828, 23
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Silica (D.E. marine-based soil)
FERMENTATION 100% stainless steel
ÉLEVAGE 44% new French oak for 13 months
ALCOHOL 14.1%
pH 3.67
TA 5.9 g/L
AROMA
Intense aromas of cranberry, pomegranate, and Rainier cherry. Underlying notes of cinnamon, lemon-thyme, and sarsaparilla.
PALATE
Powerful, with a rush of intense fruit, balanced by the complex texture. Polished, with well-integrated oak and a focused structure.
Celebrating the cool-climate character and complexity of California’s most revered winegrowing regions, our 2019 Appellation Series wines showcase what can be achieved from iconic sites in an exceptional vintage. Intricately structured with soaring flavors, this is a vintage not to miss.
A microclimate that began a mere 20 million years ago is nothing short of a miracle. Tectonic plate movements caused mountains to rise out of the ocean, break off the plate, and rotate clockwise, creating one of the most defined, transverse ranges on the Pacific Coast, and remnants of marine sediment deposited during the Miocene Epoch is the soil base. But what makes this area truly unique is the purely East/West maritime mouth that funnels cooling coastal fog and wind to the vines. Sta. Rita Hills is one of the world’s best cool-climate growing regions of Pinot Noir.
The 2019 season was windy, with heavy fog that didn’t break for roughly two weeks, which aided in optimal phenolic development of the grapes. As captivating as it is delicious, this wine has a robust and dynamic cool-factor, with intense fruit and spice notes continuing throughout the palate, building to a complex and polished finish.
Fact of Note: Very windy year with a lot of fog.
THE STA. RITA HILLS IS located between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. A critical component for this region’s success is its cool climate and the purely East/West mountain range, whose maritime mouth funnels coastal fog and wind to the vines. This unique orientation, coupled with exceptional Botella clay and limestone soils, produces wines that are as focused and bright as they are alluring.
Before you hit the Sta. Rita Hills, stretch your legs and explore the various hotels, restaurants, parks, and shops of the quaint town of Buellton. Now famous after making its silver screen debut in the movie Sideways, you can relive the film by visiting one of the many charming eateries and must-go spots when in the area.
