Description

Delicate yet powerfully built, with concentrated spiced cherry and rhubarb flavors. Cardamom and smoky accents show on the finish. Needs some time to flesh out. Best from 2019 through 2023. For years, vintners have coveted a stretch of land in the western end of Santa Barbara’s Santa Rita Hills AVA known to have the perfect microclimate, soils, and exposure to grow world-class Pinot Noir. In 1999, fulfilling a long-held dream of owner Bob Davids, this sought-after stretch of land became Sea Smoke Vineyard. Sea Smoke produces Pinot Noir grown exclusively on the south-facing hillsides of the estate vineyards. On summer evenings, the Santa Ynez River canyon funnels a cool maritime fog layer (sea “smoke”) across the hillsides, slowing the ripening process and providing the extended maturation period essential to the development of top-quality Pinot Noir. The shallow clay soils are planted to French clones on vigor-reducing rootstocks, resulting in fewer grape clusters of intense flavor. Southing refers to the south-facing hillside bluffs found on the estate vineyard.