The sea meets the sky in the Sta. Rita Hills. The soil is chalky with outcroppings of fast-draining diatomaceous earth, fossilized microalgae and plankton; an ancient ocean floor, exposed 700 feet above one of the only wine growing valleys in California that runs east-west - a perfect funnel for wind and fog.
When the region was first planted, the area was thought to be too cold for wine. Now it’s home to a tryptic of estate single-vineyards that are producing some of the most coveted Pinot Noirs along the Central Coast (and for that matter in the entire state).
Today we have the highest of the three vineyard sites available that routinely score 96-98 points from James Suckling and Jeb Dunnuck from this vineyard site. We obviously had to remove the vineyard name to get it to this list at this incredible price, and what a price it is...the source retails around $80/bottle or $960/case, for this list it’s only $30/bottle.
Lot 411 is a 100% single-vineyard source Pinot Noir aged in 100% neutral French barrels. Low-yielding Dijon clone vines clinging to 70 degree slopes produce immensely concentrated clusters of small berries - this fruit becomes wine with a capital-S Structure.
Opening with a nose of delineated wild blueberries, raspberry, and cherries wrapped around iris, sweet tobacco, and earthy forest floor, the entry showcases cherry-like acidity gliding over incredibly distributed weight and small, velvety tannins revealing red berries, clove, and potting soils. The finish is umami rich with cinnamon-kissed raspberries and vanilla cola. This is a Pinot screaming for grilled bone-in pork chops finished with mushroom cream sauce.
Truly a fine wine at a ridiculous value price, it will certainly linger on your palate and maybe in your dreams, but it probably won’t be around here long at this price...
100% single-vineyard source Dijon clone Pinot Noir
100% neutral French barrels
100% neutral French barrels
14.4% alc.
