Santa Rita Hills

This Pinot Noir drinks like Santa Barbara with a little bit of Oregon. The cool climate of the Santa Rita Hills allows for the development of pomegranate, rhubarb, black cherry, and green and black tea leaves, while its earthiness and minerality are the best attributes of Oregon Pinot Noir. Here the Southing, which has matured greatly over the years, stands apart of the run of the mill Pinot Noir. If you’ve ever been to Santa Barbara you can see the layer of clouds that hug the mountains like a blanket. Underneath that blanket are the Sea Smoke vineyards that were planted 25 years ago.

Ordered off the list at Craig's in Hollywood, CA.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with lemon, lime, slight floral note and  slight  smoke.  Full bodied.  Creamy texture.  On the palate, this is dry as a bone.  Delicious.  Lemons with slight lime.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Very food friendly.  Went great with a Veggie Burger.  Drink over the next ten years.

Allowed to breathe for a couple hours before serving.  A blend of 97% Syrah, 2% Roussanne and 1% Viognier.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has boysenberries, roasted meats and roasted herbs, and some black pepper.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the boysenberries come thru with an underlying char.  This is deep with some complexity.  Not as intense or explosive as many of Manfred's wines but still a big wine.  15.5% abv but not noticeable on the nose or palate.  This is getting close to maturity but might still improve.  It drinks great on its own but will work with grilled or roasted veggie

Great showing for this wine.  A cooler climate style of Syrah.  Garnet in color, ruby at the rim.  Mostly clear and bright.  The nose has boysenberries, black pepper, black olives and slight char.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, some black cherries with underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to do so for another seven to ten years.  Nice on its own,  it should be better with food.  Chili or beef stew would be a nice choice.  

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherry fruit and roasted herbs.  There is some depth on the palate.  Full bodied.  Black cherries, black raspberries with underlying char and pepper.  This comes across more cooler climate, that is (for Syrah) lean, sinewy but with power.  No doubt this will get better as it matures.  Maybe another five years to get closer to peak and drink for ten after than.  A nice match with Indian food.  

There are not a lot of great producers of Grenache in California, but there are a few who excel and at the top is Manfred Krankl and his Sine Qua Non wines.  At age 13, this is just hitting its stride and just outstanding.  A blend of 82% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 2% Viognier and 2% Roussanne.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, black raspberries, roasted meats and spices.  Full bodied.  15.8% abv but no heat.  On the palate, black cherries with some black raspberries over a bit of char.  Deep and powerful.  Delicious.  Long finish.  The kind of wine that

This is a very light and elegant Pinot Noir.  For those liking that style, this will be a hit.  For those who like a full throttle wine, this might be found lacking.  Light ruby in color.  The nose has cherries with some depth.  On the palate, great acidity. Bright cherry fruit.  Complex and delicious.  Elegant.  Nice finish.  This should continue to develop for the next ten years or so and drink well for another ten after that.  It will work better with food.  Crab cakes would be a nice match.  

In a recent blind tasting of 10 Santa Barbara Pinots, this was the groups favorite and my #2.  A very impressive showing.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries and sour cherries.  On the palate, this is big a fruity but with some depth.  Cherries and sour cherries come thru with a touch of mint.  Lovely texture.  Long finish.  This drinks easy on it own but will also work well with salmon or fowl.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  

Medium to dark ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, very clean.  On the palate, this is sweet and jammy cherries.  Easy drinking.  Very big.  A hedonistic style of Pinot Noir.  If one likes that style, this should be right up your alley.  Drink over the next ten years.  This will work well with roasted fowl.  

Deep ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries and slight menthol.  Medium to full bodied.  Very smooth drinking.  The black cherries come thru to the palate.  Very tasty.  Nice finish.  This is on the lusher style of Pinots.  It should be consumed in the next five to ten years.  A nice match for roasted duck.