2023 Colluvial "Once" Old Vine * Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir
Tasting notes
“This light-bodied, savory wine goes for charm and complexity and succeeds. Lowish in ripeness and alcohol, it emphasizes intricate cherry, black-tea, mushroom and forest floor nuances that keep evolving in the glass. Star anise, turned earth and bay leaves as well” 95 Pts, Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.com
“The 2023 Pinot Noir Once Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Old Vines has more to say than the other vineyard-designate bottlings tasted alongside. Tart raspberry, new leather, tobacco leaf and white pepper notes build nicely, settling into the palate with attractive concentration—surely a function of the older vines in this blend." 90 Pts, Vinous
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Varietal Composition | Old Vine 777 Dijon |
| Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills |
| Vineyard | Sanford & Benedict Vineyard |
| Aging | 19 months in 50% New French Oak (D&J) |
| Alcohol | 13.00% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Cases Produced | 48 Cases & 12 Magnums |
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.
