VINEYARD Mt. Carmel
CLONES 667, 2A
ORIENTATION East/West
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Botella clay and limestone
FERMENTATION 80% stainless steel / 20% concrete / 30% whole cluster
OAK 51% new French oak / 20% new Austrian oak / aged 16 months
ALCOHOL 13.5%
AROMA
Bright red fruit with notes of citrus and toasted coffee, followed by hints of whole cluster intensity.
PALATE
Dense and energetic with refined tannins that envelope the palate, concluding in a long, profound finish.
Planted in 1989, on steep and rugged land surrounding an abandoned Carmelite monastery, Mt. Carmel was one of the first vineyards planted in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Just 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, California, the historic 24-acre vineyard consists of organically and primarily dry-farmed, heritage chardonnay and pinot noir clones. With a soil composition uniquely its own, the wines produced from the Mt. Carmel vineyard are strikingly exquisite. Refined, bright and uplifting, the deep concentration, exceptional depth and structural complexity are profoundly irreplaceable.
Fact of Note: Our first Single Vineyard Pinot from Sta. Rita Hills.
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.
