Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2017
Trade Tools
America / Sta. Rita Hills
The fruit for this Pinot Noir is sourced from two estate vineyards in cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The grapes are harvested based on the ripeness of the tannins, which for Pinot Noir usually occurs between 24.5-27.0 Brix. The fruit is hand picked and hand sorted in the vineyard during the cool morning hours to preserve the aromatics. The clusters are gently de-stemmed with no crushing, and the must is cold soaked in open-top fermenters before inoculation. Each tank is manually punched down daily throughout maceration. Individual lots are vinified and barrel aged separately, spending approximately 18 months in French oak before blending and bottling, with additional time resting in the cellar before release.
93 Points
Wine Enthusiast
2017 vintage
Harvest Note
The 2017 vintage was one for the books. From start to finish Mother Nature kept us on our toes, delivering anything and everything except a typical Sta. Rita Hills weather pattern. The season began with an early bud break followed by a few sporadic frost events. Overall, seasonal temperatures were moderate to cool, rendering uniform berry set. As the season started winding down, the disease pressure intensified but an unexpected blast of extreme heat near Labor Day finally bumped sugars high enough to cue harvest. As temperatures cooled again, harvest slowed to a steady pace. Four weeks into picking we experienced ten days of high humidity conditions. The final crop yield was moderate and required notable tending.
Tasting Note
The plum-colored 2017 Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir features earthy aromas of forest floor and notes of strawberries, pomegranate orange blossoms and cloves. The palate is firm, accented with dark plum and cranberries finishing with just a hint of hibiscus tea, rhubarb pie and sandalwood. This wine would pair well with holiday glazed ham.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 100% Pinot noir
APPELLATION: Sta. Rita Hills
PH: 3.69
ACIDITY: 6.5 g/L
ABV: 14.3%
AGING: 18 months, 30% New French Oak
Unique Selling Points
- Sta. Rita Hills AVA is extremely well-suited and best known for producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
- Individual lots are vinified and barrel aged separately, spending approximately 18 months in French oak before blending.
“The combination of climate and soil diversity found in the Sta. Rita Hills offer some of the best grape growing conditions I’ve ever seen.”
Dave Frazier, Winemaker
About the Grape
Pinot Noir
In France, makes a silky, deceptively powerful wine of elegant, complex aromas and subtle, red fruit flavors, with earthy, floral, mushroom and mineral notes. In California, shows ripe, sweet characters.
