2012 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Lightish cherry colour. Marked savoury/stemmy aroma (more savoury than stalky) without any overt herbaceousness. A touch peppery. Savoury on the palate, too, almost earthy, but with the aromatic red fruit seeping out round the edges. Scented and long and so much more vineyard expression than fruit – though there's no lack of the latter. (JH)
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Charming earthiness and a vivid stem character that adds really gorgeous sappy snap to the palate. Redcurrant, beetroot, juniper, rhubarb – stylish and accomplished, with a simply delicious savoury soy and umami finish. (RH)
Light, bright red. Mineral-accented aromas of cherry, redcurrant and fresh rose show very good clarity and building spiciness. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering vibrant red fruit and rose pastille flavors and deeper notes of cola and anise. Finishes on a sexy floral pastille note, with gentle tannins, strong persistence and lingering minerality.
Incorporating 50% stems, Sashi’s 2012 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills should be outstanding, as well as a solid value. Showing ripe, yet juicy aromas and flavors of berry fruit, crushed herbs and spring flowers, it has a solid core of fruit, beautiful purity and terrific finish. As with most 2012s, it should be approachable on release and drink nicely for 4-6 years. A collaboration between Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman, Domaine de la Cote focuses on Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills. Their estate vineyard is located as far west as you can go in the appellation and is southeast-facing, which gives it some shelter in this windswept AVA. The wines are made in focused, elegant style, and shine for their purity and precision. The 2012s, while still in barrel, have a touch more texture and richness, with no loss of purity. This is a rock-solid estate. www.domainedelacote.com