Racines, Pinot Noir, St Rita Hills 2021
From the Importer:
Etienne de Montille’s attraction to California is well-known to anyone who has spent time with him since he spent a formative year after high school exploring the food and wine scene here in 1982-83. The Golden State, in turn, has been an important market for his family’s wines since long before Etienne took over the helm in 1998, and it was only a matter of time before he followed through on the itch to make wine in this state.
Brian Sieve, his cellar master and right arm in Burgundy, traveled with Etienne on a road trip up and down the west coast in search of the region with the most promise for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a Burgundian sensibility. This search soon focused on the Santa Rita Hills area of Santa Barbara County. A few months later, while discussing the project with Rodolphe Peters, one of the most respected growers in Champagne, Etienne found a partner in what would become Racines.
A blend of fruit from Domaine de la Côte, La Encantada, La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict vineyards. Native yeast fermentation using 1/3 whole clusters with occasional punching down during 3 week maceration before pressing into barrel. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. 10% new oak.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is an attractive, ethereal wine. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco and sage are some of the aromas and flavors that open in the glass. I would give this a few years in bottle to soften. This is an especially savory style of Pinot with plenty of aromatic presence, and the fruit pushed into the background.
From the Importer:
Etienne de Montille’s attraction to California is well-known to anyone who has spent time with him since he spent a formative year after high school exploring the food and wine scene here in 1982-83. The Golden State, in turn, has been an important market for his family’s wines since long before Etienne took over the helm in 1998, and it was only a matter of time before he followed through on the itch to make wine in this state.
Brian Sieve, his cellar master and right arm in Burgundy, traveled with Etienne on a road trip up and down the west coast in search of the region with the most promise for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a Burgundian sensibility. This search soon focused on the Santa Rita Hills area of Santa Barbara County. A few months later, while discussing the project with Rodolphe Peters, one of the most respected growers in Champagne, Etienne found a partner in what would become Racines.
A blend of fruit from Domaine de la Côte, La Encantada, La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict vineyards. Native yeast fermentation using 1/3 whole clusters with occasional punching down during 3 week maceration before pressing into barrel. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. 10% new oak.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is an attractive, ethereal wine. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco and sage are some of the aromas and flavors that open in the glass. I would give this a few years in bottle to soften. This is an especially savory style of Pinot with plenty of aromatic presence, and the fruit pushed into the background.
From the Importer:
Etienne de Montille’s attraction to California is well-known to anyone who has spent time with him since he spent a formative year after high school exploring the food and wine scene here in 1982-83. The Golden State, in turn, has been an important market for his family’s wines since long before Etienne took over the helm in 1998, and it was only a matter of time before he followed through on the itch to make wine in this state.
Brian Sieve, his cellar master and right arm in Burgundy, traveled with Etienne on a road trip up and down the west coast in search of the region with the most promise for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a Burgundian sensibility. This search soon focused on the Santa Rita Hills area of Santa Barbara County. A few months later, while discussing the project with Rodolphe Peters, one of the most respected growers in Champagne, Etienne found a partner in what would become Racines.
A blend of fruit from Domaine de la Côte, La Encantada, La Rinconada and Sanford & Benedict vineyards. Native yeast fermentation using 1/3 whole clusters with occasional punching down during 3 week maceration before pressing into barrel. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. 10% new oak.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is an attractive, ethereal wine. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco and sage are some of the aromas and flavors that open in the glass. I would give this a few years in bottle to soften. This is an especially savory style of Pinot with plenty of aromatic presence, and the fruit pushed into the background.
