Peake Ranch Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2022
Pinot Noir | US
Have you tried this yet?! Jeb Dunnuck calls it “incredibly satisfying” and we still have a little. This fabulous, strawberry-licious 2022 Pinot Noir melds two of Peake Ranch’s prestigious vineyards: John Sebastiano, and their namesake Peake Ranch. But our price is entry-level – $23.95!
Dunnuck awarded 92 points for its “spicy, complex, floral package that's medium-bodied and has a round, sweetly fruited, supple mouthfeel, and ripe, polished tannins.” We’re getting stewed strawberries mingling with sage and black tea, all sprinkled with cardamom and cinnamon. That windswept Sta. Rita Hills character, a come-hither texture, seamlessly integrated alcohol… for almost HALF OFF the winery’s very reasonable $45 price!
About that satiny texture, winemaker Wynne Solomon Sargeant says, “We want to develop tannins that are softer, more elegant, and we do that by not over- or under-cropping the vines. The right amount of leafing is key to achieve the appropriate balance between airflow and ripeness.” She adds: “We keep ferments a little colder so extraction is lighter.” At the press, she also separates portions (a.k.a. fractions) from different pressure levels. The gentleness is further accentuated by 14 months in 25% new French oak. Just how we like it!
Two bottles trigger the full price drop, and free shipping kicks in at four. Get extra and drink them over the next five years.
About the Producer
Peake Ranch is a highly respected site in the cooler Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County, comprising 50 planted acres of Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Grenache. The vineyard’s diverse soils make it a prized fruit source for many top producers. Owners John and Gillian Wagner planted the vineyard in the 2010s. They live part time in Los Angeles and spend the rest of their time at Peake Ranch, where they built a small house next to the winery. John grew up in Ventura County, working on his family’s lemon and avocado orchards. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Physics from UCLA, then pursued a career in finance, but always wanted to return to agriculture. He completed the UC Davis Certificate in Winemaking to get a handle on owning a vineyard and coaxing the best from it. Gillian was born in England and is involved in philanthropic work to address homelessness in LA. Peake Ranch operates both as a vineyard designate and a winery, generating wines that highlight the site’s natural elegance and energy. Wynne Sargeant was the winemaker from about 2018 to 2025, and now Michael Anderson – who also manages UC Davis’ legendary Oakville Station Vineyard – is at the helm.
- Blend100% Pinot Noir
- WinemakerWynne Solomon Sargeant
- CountryUS
- RegionCalifornia
- Sub-RegionCentral Coast
- AppellationSanta Barbara County
- Oak25% new French oak
- Aging/Cooperage14 months
- Alcohol14%
