2021 Co^lluvial "Catorce" Old Vine * Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir
Tasting notes
“Light ruby color. An overtly, and very attractive, floral-suffused essence of red berry fruit nose displays hints of exotic tea and crushed anise. The lighter weight but quite punchy and precise flavors possess a caressing, even seductive, texture before concluding in a bitter pit fruit-inflected finish. This could use better depth but there is no doubt that this is one very pretty pinot.” Allen Meadows’ Burghound Issue #92
“Coming from one of the top sites in the region, the 2021 Pinot Noir Catorce Old Vine Sanford & Benedict Vineyard was 70% destemmed and spent 18 months in 20% new oak. Pulled from a single block of heritage clones, it has a translucent medium-ruby hue to go with impressive aromatics of sweet strawberries, framboise, spring flowers, and sappy green herbs. It's medium-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, nicely integrated acidity and tannins, and a good finish. This pretty, nuanced, elegant Pinot Noir will keep for 5-7 years.” Jeb Dunnuck
“Bright and direct, with a mix of damson plum and bitter cherry notes streaking through, flanked by a light sandalwood frame. Finishes with touches of dried fruit and potpourri.” James Molesworth-Wine Spectator
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Varietal Composition | Martini |
| Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills |
| Vineyard | Sanford & Benedict Vineyard |
| Aging | 19 months in 20% New French Oak (Leroi) |
| Alcohol | 14.10% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 106 |
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Named one of the five most important and iconic vineyards in California by Wine Enthusiast, the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is renowned for both its historical significance and the continued quality of the fruit it produces. First planted in 1971, this vineyard is home to the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County. Today, within this vineyard we still farm 51 acres of vines from the original planting. Another unique aspect of these original plantings is that they were planted on their own root stock (vitis vinifera) and these “own rooted” vines have flourished for more than 45 years.
This vineyard is blessed with calcium rich clay loam soils with a lot of fractured shale and chert- a result of the sloughing off of the top half of this mountain over 1million years ago. Primarily planted to Pinot Noir, the Sanford & Benedict vineyard features more than 20 individual blocks and 11 different clones.
