93 Points -
Lastly, the 2017 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard reveals a similar translucent ruby/plum color and offers a more gamey, herbal style in its darker currant and cherry fruits as well as notes of leafy herbs, earth, and briny minerality. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has a more rounded texture and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years of so. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com, Aug 2020
Tasting Notes
Due to slightly richer soils, dark cherry and plum aromas are framed by notes of purple flowers. The mouthfeel is highly textured and rich with juicy cherry and plum flavors that are complement by a salinity and minerality that gives the wine a long and elegant finish.
Historic Acclaim
2017: 91 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2020
2017: 90+ Points, L.P-B, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, February 2020
Vineyard & Vintage Character
The Fiddlestix vineyard is farmed by the delightful Kathy Joseph and her team and sits on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. We produce this wine from two of the steepest of 32 small blocks on the site. Cold Pacific Ocean breezes and fog move down this transverse valley and cools down the vineyard considerably. The elevation of our blocks is an average of 300 feet above sea level, compared to almost 500 feet for the Truly Rita site and therefore the soils are a little darker and slightly richer here
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French Oak, 25% new
Time in oak: 17 months
Alcohol: 14.8%
TA: 5.4 g/L
pH: 3.70
Cases produced: 195