Flying Goat has been making wine in Santa Barbara for nearly 25 years. Best known for his various expressions of Pinot Noir, winemaker Norm Yost also produces sparkling wine and Pinot Gris. This is the first time Norm has used Gris fruit from the Shoestring Vineyard and the result is a bright, expressive, tasty Pinot Gris that will make you rethink just how good Pinot Gris can be. This has it all: citrus fruit, proper acidity, smooth on the palate and a wonderful finish.

12.5% abv.  A 2024 Governor's Cup winner.  Pale silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is flinty with some oak/spice.  With air a bit of citrus shows.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous/creamy texture.  On the palate, lemons with some minerality.  The midpalate had green apples.  An interesting menthol note on the finish that turns chalky.  Overall, a slightly oaked, crisp Chardonnay that is nice on its own and even better with food.  It would work well with broiled or grilled scallops.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

Santa Barbara is Pinot Noir country, and the range of expressions in this county are varied. One of the stalwarts, having first started in 1975, is Lucas & Lewellen. For an inexpensive Pinot Noir, L&L does an admirable job of crafting a tightly wound Pinot with excellent fruit, good acidity, and oak influence (a mere 10 months in oak, only a small portion of which was new French) which doesn’t break the bank.

This estate provides some real value  in Bordeaux especially in the good (expensive) vintages.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cassis, cigar box and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is showing a nice complexity.  It should still develop more but is getting closer to peak.  Cassis with spice and char.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own but better with food.  It would work well with Lamb Stew.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.

Some of the best Chardonnay for my tastes comes from Santa Cruz, California.  The wines tend to be crisp but full and age quite well.  A new one recently tried is the Shawn Walker McBride Maeve Vineyard.  I am not sure why this carries that label as other varietal wines carry a Crosby Roamann designation as the producer with a very similar label.  In any event this one is also very good.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has red apples with a touch of lemon and a nice minerality.  Medium to full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is crisp with flavors or apples an

This is a really enjoyable Pinot Noir.  It is big in style and filled with fruit and deliciousness.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cherries, and black raspberries along with a bit of dark chocolate and black olives.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Good balance.  On the palate, loads of red and purple fruits with some spice and just a bit of earthiness.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but will be a bit non-traditional when matching with foods.  It would go great with Pork Chops.  Drink over the next ten to twelve

This house and this wine don't seem to get the attention that they deserve despite the critics loving them.  It is a blend of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is big with black raspberries, black cherries, slight plums, spices, floral notes and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  Great energy.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Complex.  Layers of black raspberries, plums and black cherries with some char and spice.  Long finish.  This is getting close to peak and should drink well for another eight to twelve years.  Great

Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and some black cherries along with a touch of spice.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is middle of the Zin Road in terms of style.  Cherries and black cherries with some char.  Some depth.  It drinks easily on its own and will work well with many foods.  A nice choice for Pizza night.  

Chidaine is a favorite Loire producer of ours.  Excellent wines for not crazy money.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with chalk/minerals along with pears and lemon rind.  Medium bodied.  Nice acidity.  Great texture.  On the palate, minerality with pears.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and even better with food.  This would be great with a goat cheese and roasted beet salad.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years. 

Rhys makes some of the best Pinot Noirs anywhere.  This one is one of their best.  Medium ruby in color. The nose has cherries, soy and baking spices. Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is complex and concentrated. Layers of cherries and black cherries along with spice and char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own but would work with many foods.  Roasted duck or chicken would be perfect.  At age 10, just starting to show some maturity.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.