Chanin Wine Company La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012

The La Rinconada Pinot Noir is full of strong spice notes, from white pepper to tobacco leaf and cedar. These aromas pair beautifully with delicate hints of rose petal and wild blackberry, which continue on the palate. This wine has great structure, and its expected to age quite well, but it's showing fantastic now.

Chanin Wine Co. is dedicated to crafting wines from Santa Barbara County that reflect the individual vineyard in which they are grown. They focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two grapes that are especially revealing of subtle differences in geography, geology, and climate. Their grapes are grown in Santa Barbara County, where cool coastal winds, diverse marine-based soils, and a long, growing season provide an exciting and unique environment for Burgundian varieties. La Rinconada Vineyard, located in the Sta. Rita Hills, comes from the same owners and same dedicated farming team as Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, which is right next door to Chanin Wine Company. The soils here are slightly heavier, and very little water is used due to natural springs that run along the hillside by the vineyard. The grapes were picked by hand on September 25, at 23.4 brix, as the growing season began to cool down. The fruit went though a four-day cold soak before it began to ferment, with a total of 14 days on skin. It was punched down by hand daily until dry, and then aged 15 months in 25% new French oak.