While California has built it’s reputation on king Cabernet (think Sauvignon) and continues its perpetual love affair with the world’s most feted, golden grape Chardonnay, its viticultural landscape of the last few years has witnessed a burst of diversity. Today, as the region’s body of wine artisans continues to build world-class domains producing bottlings across a range of varieties, the depth and quality of the offerings emanating from the golden state is quite simply breathtaking!
One such variety, the great Burgundian ambassador Pinot Noir, increasingly speaks with a commanding voice across California’s wine lands. Among the state’s most exciting districts for this variety is the Santa Barbara region known as the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Here, fog and cool winds from the Pacific coast channeled along the Santa Ynez river basin create ideal conditions for the vine’s expression.
In the heart of this district lies Sea Smoke, an estate producing a range of highly-compelling and much sought-after wines. The domain’s 2010 Botella Pinot Noir is currently featured in Love The Wine You’re With.
Cheers!
Slave to the grape – worse fates there have been!
Slave To The Grape 