Sanford Pinot Noir Vista Al Rio Estate Santa Rita Hills 2017

Sanford is unquestionably Santa Barbara’s most historic producer. This single-block wine from the estate’s La Rinconada Vineyard is a classic Santa Rita Hills pinot noir – rich, ethereal, fruit-forward, and spicy. With a 94-point score and at an unbelievable $52 OFF… this is as good as it gets!

It is not an exaggeration to say that the Santa Rita Hills AVA would not exist without Sandford. They first laid down vines at the Sanford & Benedict vineyard back in 1971, the first to be planted in the region, and they began wowing the critics as far back as 1976 with their Burgundian styles of cool-climate vino perfection. Most of the vineyards today in Santa Barbara have begged for clippings to graft onto their own vines, making them a sort of modern-day Wente, with their source material lovingly spread across the county (and beyond!).

This is a classic and timeless Santa Rita Hills pinot noir that would make Miles blush and Jack spit out his gum (side note: the famous gum chewing scene in Sideways occurs at Sanford). With expressive aromatics of violets, black raspberries, and baker’s chocolate – the wine beckons you hither, leading to flavors of Black Forest cake, raspberry coulis, sage, thyme, and cherry cola on a layered and lengthy finish. Beautifully integrated, the wine is sure to continue with strength for another decade.

This plot stands a mere ten miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, around the town of Lompoc. Here, the unique east-west orientation of the Santa Ynez Valley yields a gateway to the Pacific Ocean, its morning fog, and its cooling breezes throughout the day. The result here is a beautifully perfumed, slowly-ripened, concentrated, and classic Santa Rita Hills pinot noir in the prime of its youth. With the unbelievable savings of 56% OFF… get this while you can!