Product Overview
Appellation Notes
"The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is significantly impacted by its proximity to the ocean (10 miles), consistent morning/evening fog, and steady afternoon winds. These cooling trends are not only perfectly suited to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Grenache, and Syrah but also serve to prolong the growing season, allowing for heightened varietal flavor intensity. Additionally, the area’s cool climate and vineyards’ calcareous rock and sand help produce grapes with natural acidity and flavor balance."
Winemaker's Notes
"A carefully crafted blend of seven different Sta. Rita Hills vineyards, the 2022 Pinot Noir - Sta. Rita Hills exemplifies the cool climate and long growing season that shape the flavor profile of wines from our area. This Pinot noir has aromas of dark red fruit, baking spice and on the palate the wine is structured and focused, while retaining brightness and freshness, with notes of black cherry and a pleasant salinity on the finish."
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clonal Selection: 115, 459, 667, 777, Swan
Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Vineyard Sources: 31% Hilliard Bruce, 26% Spear, 23% Our Lady of Guadalupe, 9% Bentrock, 7% Rancho La Viña, 2% Radian, 2% La Encantada
Whole Cluster: 56%
Aging: 10 months in French oak, 15% new
Production: 1,052 cases
Winemaker: Matt Brady
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"Fairly extreme aromas of bay leaf, rosemary and eucalyptus enliven the raspberry core on the nose of this bottling. The palate is awash in sansho peppercorn flavors that give a spicy, herbal edge to the tart red plum core." -MK, 12/1/24
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is from a mix of vineyards (Hillard Bruce, Spear, Lady of Guadalupe, Bentrock, and others) and was aged in 15% new oak. It's an incredibly peppery, stemmy effort with quality red and black fruits, some forest, floral, and herbal background notes, medium-bodied richness, and a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel. It’s going to benefit from a year or two in bottle and drink nicely through 2032+." -JD
90 Points - Vinous
"The 2022 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a very pretty appellation-level wine. Dried herbs, mint, rosewater and orange peel lend lovely savory intensity. This ethereal, nuanced Pinot is a charmer. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout." -AG, Jul/2024
88 Points - Wine Advocate
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills opens with a woody, autumnal nose of dried leaves, tobacco and dried flowers. The palate is deliciously plush and precise, leading to a straightforward finish with subtly drying tannins. It's a pleasant introduction to the more serious range of Samsara Pinot Noirs."
