The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2019, Sta. Rita Hills, California

The unobstructed, ocean facing east-west valley known as Sta. Rita Hills Valley is a complex AVA. One could divide it into four quadrants: northern-facing, southern-facing, close to the ocean, and further inland from the ocean. With such a frame, The Hilt’s favorite vineyards are in the northern-facing, closest to the ocean, windswept quadrant. These sites are the worst place for a grape grower, but the best ones for a winemaker. The Estate wines are defined by the fruit and flavors of our little southwestern corner of the Sta. Rita Hills. They speak of the nuances and complexities of our property as a whole. These wines take into account the many aspects,clones, soil types, and other properties of our estate. 2018 vintage – Welcomes with a decidedly savory and wild nose with bright red berries, incense, blood orange, clove, green peppercorn and black tea. Notes of dried sage, rosemary, menthol and elderberry. Seamless and pure red fruit that rolls across the palate with pomegranate-like juiciness. One can sense the cold, windy conditions of our estate vineyards in the focused and streamlined attack and persistent yet balanced brightness on the finish. Solid Hilt structure with large quantities of impossibly fine tannins. Altogether a seductive, chalky and deeply complex Hilt Estate pinot noir.