Tasting Report: California’s Santa Rita Hills

I am in love with Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir. They are bold and rich wines, yet balanced and refined with wonderful freshness and length. Names like Brewer-Clifton, Paul Lato, Sea Smoke, and Alma Rosa are really rocking it.

I could go on with the comparisons, or the “free associations” with the wines and winemakers I met this autumn in the Central Coast, making wines from vineyards in this appellation. But I kept thinking about Burgundians I had met along the way in my career when I spoke and tasted with the likes of Paul Lato (pictured) and Greg Brewer.

What I like about these guys is their passion. They are not sitting in million dollar faux-chateaus, but making wines in converted warehouses for the love of the craft, for the love of wine. And it shows in the bottle, particularly their Pinots.

Chardonnays are also flavorful yet reserved, with bright and fresh acidities from the Santa Rita Hills. They can have an exotic fruit and floral character, yet there remains a steely and chalky undertone. These are wines I really want to drink and not just taste!

The cool climate influenced by the sea and fog, as well as the ancient soils of the region, really creates a unique growing area. I must get back and discover more about the Santa Rita Hills.

It’s interesting how many wine producers use the same vineyards and come up with different wines. For example, I visited the Cargasacchi Vineyards with owner Peter Cargasacchi, as well as two of his customers who buy grapes: winemakers Brian Loring and Adam Siduri. It was like two artists painting the same subject but coming up with different interpretations. This is inspiring.

I also enjoyed the top wines of Sea Smoke, particularly the 2009 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Ten California Grand Cru. You might get the impression that it’s a blend from 10 different vineyards, but it’s actually 10 different clones. It’s complex and beautiful and reminds me of a top Volnay in style.

Try some of these wines and let me know how you like them.

 

Other outstanding wines from Santa Rita Hills from the First California Central Coast Reviews report:

2006 Sine Qua Non Grenache Santa Rita Hills In The Crosshairs Eleven Confessions Vineyard - 96 points

2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah Santa Rita Hills A Shot In The Dark Eleven Confessions Vineyard - 95 points

2007 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi-Jalama Vineyard - 94 points

2010 Loring Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Close Pepe Vineyard - 94 points

2008 Bonaccorsi Syrah Santa Rita Hills Star Lane - 93 points

2009 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard - 93 points

2010 Loring Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard - 93 points

2010 Loring Santa Rita Hills Rancho La Vina Vineyard - 93 points

2008 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Fiddlestix Vineyard - 92 points

2007 Bonaccorsi Syrah Santa Rita Hills Star Lane - 92 points

2010 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard - 92 points

2007 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Fiddlestix Vineyard - 91 points

2005 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Fiddlestix Vineyard - 90 points

2009 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard - 90 points

Also tasted, but not receiving marks of 90 points or more: 

2009 Gainey Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Limited Selection 2009 Gainey Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills Limited Selection 2008 Ortman Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Turner Vineyard 2010 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Summit 2009 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard 2009 Sandhi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Evening Land-Tempest 2010 Carr Pinot Gris Santa Rita Hills Turner Vineyard 2009 Sandhi Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict 2009 Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills