THE HILT ESTATE 'STA RITA HILLS' PINOT NOIR, CALIFORNIA 2018

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Santa Rita Hills, California

What's So Special: To understand the wines made by The Hilt, one might need to come visit the hard and harsh conditions under which they are born. 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.

Tastes Like: 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.

What the Pros Say: Vinous - 93 Points: "A bright, effusive wine, the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate offers up an explosion of red berry fruit, spice and floral notes. Bright acids keep the flavors wonderfully vivid. Readers will find so much to like in this mid-weight, super-expressive Pinot from The Hilt. I loved it."