THE STORY

The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is where it all began. In 1971 this was the first vineyard planted in what became a world class, cool climate appellation. This iconic vineyard now contains the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County. Between the history and the amazing quality of the fruit, many consider this site deserving of “Grand Cru” status. The 2016 vintage followed a 5-year drought and was marked by full palates and balanced acidity. For this special bottling, we selected 31 individual barrels containing the vineyard’s best expression.

PROFILE & WINEMAKING

Bright, ruby red, the 2016 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir entices with aromas of brambly raspberry, dusty mocha, and brushy chaparral. The palate delivers earthy, spicy red berry flavors with a rich texture. The bright acidity and supple tannins give the wine great structure and length. To allow the vineyard to shine through, we take a gentle approach in the cellar, using traditional Burgundian techniques. The wine was aged in French Oak barrels (32% new) for 14 months where it gained concentration, while allowing the tannins to soften. This wine is drinking well now, but has the balance and structure to age beautifully for the next 12 to 15 years.