Sea Smoke has long produced very good and unique Pinot Noir coming from a scant few miles from the Pacific Ocean in the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. The ubiquitous fog that covers the mountains helps to grow Pinot in its naturally desired cool environment. What results out of this for Santa Barbara Pinot Noir is that Sea Smoke is more on the darker fruit side and carries an earthy quality that an abundance of Santa Barbara Pinot Noir does not.

A gorgeous wine that may not yet be at peak.  Purple in color, shimmering bright.  The nose has boysenberries, chocolate, slight graphite, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  Very well balanced.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries, char and slight chocolate.  Long finish.  This does not seem to be at peak yet but getting there.  If opening soon, a one hour decant would be a good idea.  Drink over the next ten to twenty years.  This drinks well on its own and will work with hearty foods.  This would be nice with Lamb Stew or Quinoa with Roasted Squash.  

A good showing for this wine which seems to be just about at peak.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, chocolate, char and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium to firm tannins.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with spice and char.  Long finish.  This won't get better but one should still have another five to eight years (based on this bottle) before it starts going downhill.  it is nice on its own but probably better with food.  It would go nicely with Indian cuisine.  

While a step down from the 2004, this bottle showed well, too.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, slight chocolate but also a "tinny" quality.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, flavors of black raspberries with some underlying char.  Long finish.  This is probably a bit past peak but still drinking well.  That said, these should be probably be consumed sooner than later.  It drinks well on its own but would be better with food.  This would go well with a hearty Chili.  

An interesting take on Chardonnay.  More relaxed and easy in style than a powerhouse or an elegant wine.  Yellow/silver/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some yellow grapefruit and a bit of minerality.  Medium bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, grapefruit with a very slight flavor of vanilla.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should go another five to eight years.  It is lovely on its own and would work well with Sushi or other seafoods.