2007 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir

Growing Region:

Known for growing terrific pinot noir decades before the movie "Sideways" was released, Santa Barbara County enjoys a long growing season, encouraging development of concentrated and balanced berries. The coastal climate is key--it is just warm enough that the fruit fully ripens, yet not too hot that vegetal undertones appear. The well-draining sandstone and limestone soils consistently produce small berries that are richly concentrated with flavors and aromas. The majority of the fruit for this wine was sourced from the North Canyon, with the vineyards situated on the cool end of this box canyon in restrictive hillside soil.

Winemaking:

After a gentle de-stemming process the whole berries were fermented in stainless steel open-top tanks and punched down daily. A portion of the wine was then aged in a combination of 1-3 year old French (30%) and American (22%) oak barrels. The remainder of the blend was aged in stainless steel to preserve the fresh fruit flavors and maintain good acid structure to the finished wine.

Winemaker's Notes:

The Greg Norman 2007 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir is ruby red in color. Aromas of sweet strawberry, rose petal and tomato vine are subtle and highlighted by mushroom nuances. The fruit forward flavors of ripe cherry and strawberry are delivered with a smooth mouthfeel and lingering silky tannins.

Food Pairing:

This elegant Pinot Noir would be a perfect accompaniment to cherry glazed duck breast, red wine risotto or stuffed portabella mushrooms.

Technical Information:

Appellation: Santa Barbara County, California
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.77
Total Acidity: 0.55 g/100ml
Harvest Date: September to October 2007
Bottle Date: May 2008
Release Date: July 2008

 

Ratings & Reviews

Wine Spectator.com (Jan. 12, 2009)
"...Very good, with clean ripe flavors..." - James Laube

 

Wine Spectator (May 31, 2009)
"Refreshingly complex, elegant and stylish, with a tasty mix of mineral, black cherry, wild berry and floral scents that are long and complex on the finish. Very impressive at this price. Drink now. " - James Laube

 

USAToday.com (Dec. 18, 2008)
"The earthy and herbal notes of Pinot Noir make it a welcome alternative to the sweeter, richer versions coming out of Northern California." - Jerry Shriver