At the table with Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022
Seared tuna fillet with sesame, roast free-range chicken with herbs, rack of Iberian pork, wild mushrooms with garlic and parsley, guinea fowl with figs.
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Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022Kosta Browne
This cuvée comes from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, in Santa Barbara County, California, one of the rare east-west oriented valleys that let the Pacific winds and mists flow straight in. It blends renowned vineyards, including Mt. Carmel, Rita's Crown, Sanford & Benedict, John Sebastiano and Bentrock, on varied soils of volcanic origin, marine sediments and loess. This ocean freshness gives Pinot Noir slow ripening and great tension.
The lots are vinified separately, mainly in stainless-steel tanks, complemented by concrete tanks and a few oak vessels, with around 3% whole clusters. The wine is aged for 16 months, 37% in new French oak barrels, 42% in neutral barrels and 21% in large oak vats (foudres), in order to build a fine, balanced texture.
This wine reveals notes of mulberry blossom, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, cinnamon, clove, dried rose and graphite. Red and black fruit intertwine with sweet spices and a hint of minerality. The elegantly structured palate combines notes of bramble fruit with assertive tannins and a memorable finish.
All about Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022
At what temperature should Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022 be served?
Between 15 and 17 °C.
How long can Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022 be kept?
Ageing potential: 5 to 10 years, until around 2032. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022?
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir. Origin: California, United States. Alcohol: 14.1%.
What to serve with Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022?
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2022 pairs well with oily fish and white meat. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.
Where are we traveling?
CaliforniaUnited States
While all 50 American states produce wine, California alone accounts for around 85% of the country's output, making the state the world's 4th-largest producer behind Italy, France and Spain. The climate is strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, which at this latitude is a cold ocean. Wine regions close to the Pacific have an oceanic climate that becomes Mediterranean the further inland you go, and more continental near the Sierra Nevada. Bays and openings to the sea, such as San Pablo Bay, act as thermal regulators for viticulture, particularly in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
The sub-region: Lodi
The Lodi wine area lies directly east of San Francisco Bay. Although it is quite far from the coast (the Pacific is 115 km to the west), Lodi enjoys a Mediterranean climate that is milder than you might expect for an inland location. This is due to the many rivers that cross the region and the creeks, estuaries and bays into which they flow. The parts of the region closer to the ocean are noticeably cooler, although most of Lodi enjoys warm days and lends itself to producing reds with concentrated flavour.
The little history of the country
United States
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...).
In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.