Santa Barbara

• Santa Lucia Highlands
• Santa Rita Hills
• Santa Ynez Valley

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.

This was surprisingly tight and after opening, it was recorked and consumed the following  evening.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, milk chocolate, black pepper, slight violets and slight roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking nicely but not a huge Syrah.  Plenty of ripeness though.  Flavors of black raspberries, milk chocolate, and spice.  Slight char.  Good finish.  This drinks well on its own and would  work well with spiced meats or fowl.  Drink over the next five to eight years.  

This is the value in the Jonata lineup.  It is a "kitchen sink" blend that has always been excellent.  This vintage is 66% Syrah, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon,

From Magnum.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, black pepper, slight roasted meats and herbs and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Great balance.  Plenty of depth.  Flavors of black raspberries, black pepper and char.  Nice acidity.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and even from a 750ml should have a decade left.  It is great on its own and went great with a vegetable Lasagna.