Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2023

Cette cuvée provient de Santa Barbara County, sur la Central Coast californienne. Elle assemble des raisins issus de parcelles sélectionnées, majoritairement situées dans la Santa Maria Valley, notamment Bien Nacido, North Canyon et Rancho Real, complétées par Kick On et Los Alamos dans le secteur de Los Alamos.

Les raisins sont vendangés à la main en plusieurs passages, puis fermentés par petits lots avec des pigeages manuels quotidiens. Le vin est ensuite élevé pendant 8 mois en fûts de chêne français François Frères, afin de gagner en profondeur et en complexité tout en préservant la finesse du fruit.

Ce vin dévoile des notes de groseille rouge, myrtille, orange sanguine, fraise des bois, violette, laurier, poivre blanc, clou de girofle et pierre mouillée. La bouche se montre souple, juteuse et harmonieusement structurée, portée par une acidité fraîche, des tanins mesurés et une finale savoureuse aux accents fruités, épicés et délicatement terreux.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors into California that boosted the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in Sonoma and Napa. At the start of the 20th century there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so much so that by 1933 only 140 wineries were still producing wine. It was not until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was then known mainly for fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were founded (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976 a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgement of Paris". It pitted the greatest French wines against the American newcomers. On 24 May, an unexpected result shook the wine world when, to everyone's surprise, the United States came out on top. Yet the competition remains fairly unknown to the general public. Today there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Although California largely monopolises the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.