The Hilt Pinot Noir 2014 | Lavish, layered & dark-fruited
The Hilt Pinot Noir 2014 presents shimmering ruby in color. With lifted aromatics of strawberries, rose petal, orange peel, and rhubarb. While full-bodied and opulent with a dense core of ripeness and satin-like tannins. The finish is long with red berries, orange peel, and lingering spice. Drink now-2022.
Read all about Winemaker Matt Dees
94JS | The beautiful aromatic quality to this is impressive with strawberry, chalk, some spice, and bark undertone. The Hilt Pinot Noir 2014 delivers a Full body, while layered and velvety. Wonderful undertones. You want to drink this immediately. Most of all, made by the owner of Screaming Eagle. Such brightness with a sweet and sour undertone. Iron too.
Santa Rita Hills AVA & Rancho Salsipuede
They found the perfect place in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, at a site called Rancho Salsipuedes. The property boasts the best of what makes Sta. Rita Hills one of Santa Barbara’s top sites for Pinot Noir. It encompasses the rugged terrain of two renown vineyards, both primary sources for The Hilt’s blend: Radian, as well as the rolling hills of Bentrock, which are quite reminiscent of the Côte d’Or. The site enjoys the persistent winds and cooling influence of the Pacific, which keep acidity optimal even as the California sun radiates warmth down on the vines.
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The Hilt Pinot Noir 2014 comes from Rancho Salsipuedes, whose forbidding Sta. Rita Hills terrain exposes steeply-sloped vines to powerful, energizing Pacific winds, which makes it “a grower’s nightmare, but a winemaker’s dream. This unique microclimate turned out a “full-bodied, layered, and velvety,” wine, and with 94 points from James Suckling.
Winemaker Matt Dees
“Winemaker Matt Dees has an impeccable pedigree: In addition to his time alongside Andy Erickson in Napa, he has a degree in soil science, early experience working with Burgundy varieties at New Zealand’s Craggy Range, and a proven record of Santa Barbara County excellence. The Wine Advocate has called The Hilt “an estate whose future is very bright,” but we take issue with that assessment. With Matt Dees at the helm, The Hilt’s time is right now. Don’t miss out on this The Hilt Pinot Noir 2014 gem.
