2020 Racines "Cuvée" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
93DC
93VN
92JG
$29.95
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93
Decanter
Reviewed September 2023Sleek and classy. Overt with aromas of ripe dark fruits, violets, dark chocolate and spices. The palate is bright with freshness, dense with ripe tannin and fruit, yet captured at a point of real freshness. Generously juicy, followed by a long finish. (Panel Tasting)
Professional Reviews
93
Vinous
The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée is a terrific introduction to the range. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a touch of whole cluster savoriness are all beautifully delineated. This is such a gorgeous and expressive Pinot. (AG)
92
John Gilman
The 2020 Pinot Noir “Santa Rita Hills Cuvée” from Racines comes in at an even thirteen percent octane in this vintage. It comes from several different vineyards, all of which are farmed organically. The wine offers up a refined and complex bouquet of red and black cherries, beetroot, woodsmoke, a lovely streak of soil tones, Santa Rita Hills herb tones and a discreet framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and tangy, with a sappy core of fruit, lovely focus and balance, fine-grained tannins and impressive length and backend bounce on the complex finish. This is excellent pinot, particularly for the entry level bottling from Racines! The tannins here are not particularly intrusive, so the wine is certainly approachable today, but much more complexity will emerge if the wine is tucked away in the cellar for at least another five to seven years. Fine juice. (JG) 92+
Staff Reviews
RW
Review Date: 03/2025
One time pricing on these stunning wines from Racines. Here's you chance to grab some wines from a top flight winemaking team, sourced from some of the finest vineyards in California. Our staff was blown away by these wines during our tastings last week, they are truly spectacular. Racines is a collaborative project founded by famed Burgundian vigneron Étienne de Montille and winemaker Brian Sieve both of Domain de Montille in Volnay. Local Santa Barbara know how is brought by celebrated winemaker Justin Willet of Tyler, and even grower Champagne phenom Rudolphe Peters from Champagne Pierre Peters joined the crew to consult on the wines. This serious winemaking firepower is combined with deep connections and sourcing from the very best vineyards in Sta Rita Hills. Sources here include Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada, La Encantada and Rancho La Vina. The wines are very "Burgundian" in style, favoring elegance, purity, and aromatic finesse over sheer weight and power. Soaring dried rose petal and baking spices lead here with alpine herbs, sandalwood and ripe raspberry. The 50% whole-cluster fermentation gives excellent lift and vibrancy whilst the fine grained tannins caress the palate and provide tactile length and definition on the finish. So pure and precise. Probably unbeatable QPR at our jaw-dropping Insider's Advantage pricing. Snooze you lose!
SB
Scott Beckerley
Review Date: 03/2025Scott Beckerley
The deep smoky cherry nose on this bottling leads to big and dark red fruits with upper palate minerals and clean oak. Though the palate starts off full (not plush!) it also retains the upper palate minerals for a clean finish that also has some savory spicy notes.
AH
Aaron Hughes
Review Date: 03/2025Aaron Hughes
This is being made by an esteemed Burgundy winemaker, Etienne de Montille, and those sensibilities absolutely shine in the wine. There's a delicate savory note brought out, with cocoa dusted cherries and raspberry being accompanied by hints of tomato skin. The palate is on the edge of crunchy, with brighter fruit like cranberry and pomegranate accompanying the darker cherry tones, yet it ends slightly creamy and floral. These are wines with serious pedigree, from serious vineyards, and they have presented a unique look at the fruit from the region, absolutely worth trying one of each and then casing up on your favorites. These are wines that will last and will only improve over the next few years.
Notes
Racines is a collaborative project between iconic Burgundian vigneron Etienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Domaine de Montille in Volnay, Rudolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters, and Justin Willet of Tyler winery in Santa Barbara. The wines are sourced from the very best vineyards in the region, and meticulously vinified using traditional artisinal Burgundian techniques to produce the purest expressions of place and season. The 2020 Cuvée Pinot Noir is sourced from Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada, La Encantada and Rancho la Vina vineyards. The fruit is fermented using 50% whole-clusters and native yeast in small, open-top tanks. The wine ages for 17 months in just 15% new French oak barrels. 13% ABV.
Details
| Origin | Santa Maria/Santa Barbara, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Type/Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Alcohol Content | 13% |
| SKU | 1841168 |