Pence Ranch Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2020

Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California Pence Ranch Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills is a beautiful Pinot from Pence Vineyards & Winery. The winery is part of a 220-acre working ranch located in Sta. Rita Hills (a sub-AVA of Santa Barbara) owned by Blair Pence. Blair, a Burgundy lover, began planting the vineyard in 2004, and after researching the various soils on his property divided it into 20 different blocks. The vineyard is located on the eastern edge of Sta. Rita Hills, near the coast and at a relatively higher elevation (450 feet). Cool ocean air is constantly flowing though the site keeping it at a lower temperature than the surrounding areas. Respected vintner Sashi Moorman makes the wines and they reflect his penchant for producing elegant and balanced wines. Native yeast fermentation occurs in 40-ton concrete open-top fermenters; stem inclusion is done in varying percentages each year depending on the health of fruit. After primary fermentation is complete, there is no settling of free run juice, which is barreled directly from the fermenter. All wines are aged in neutral to 30% new French oak barrels, and wines are racked the following summer. There are no further wine movements until assemblage prior to bottling, which happens after anywhere from 9 to 15 months in barrel. Organic farming. Pence Ranch Pinot Noir is bright ruby red in color with notes of strawberry, chocolate, plum and cigar box. It offers a great mouthfeel with firm tannins and a lingering finish. Enjoy Pence Ranch Pinot Noir Santa Tita Hills with salmon, pan roasted pork loin, mushroom dishes, and grilled flank steak.