2022 WALT Rita's Crown Pinot Noir
Critic Review
"More framboise, chalky mineral, and floral notes define the 2022 Pinot Noir Rita's Crown, a pretty, perfumed, elegant 2022 that has a terrific sense of purity and precision, fine tannins, and a great finish. "
93 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Matt Kettmann
"Dark pomegranate aromas are layered in earth, herb and crushed rock on the nose of this bottling. The palate picks up red plum, wild thyme and tons of chaparral spice, with touches of toasted oak coming through toward the finish."
Rita's Crown Vineyard
Steep rolling south facing hills, nestled between
the east west aspect of the Santa Rosa and
La Purisima Hills
Central Coast AVA
Roughly 250 miles along the coastline of California
from Santa Barbara County to San Francisco County
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Follows a clearly defined maritime “throat” that
ushers in the Pacific fog and constant cooling breezes
Cobble Clay Loam Soils
produce small vines and berries of intense
flavor and depth
The depth, refinement, and unique flavors of the 2022 Rita's Crown Pinot Noir are a reflection of the vineyard's soil and location. The ancient seabed soils of the site bring out mineral flavors, and the windswept exposure at high elevation drives concentration while notes of umami and salinity are introduced by the proximity to the ocean. Plush and lusciously textured raspberry and mulberry fruits grace the palate.
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Mineral
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Salinity
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Raspberry
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Mulberry
The Rita's Crown Vineyard is an exceptional site comprised mainly of steeply rolling hills planted to south facing vineyards. Limiting cobble clay loam soils and extremely well drained slopes produce small vines and berries of intense flavor and depth. Rita's Crown is nestled between the east west aspect of the Santa Rosa and La Purisima Hills, allowing the cool ocean fog to roll through the vineyard - perfect for Pinot Noir.
Bottle Size | 750mL |
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Varietal Composition | 100% Pinot Noir |
Barrel Aging | 10 Months in 45% New French |
Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County |
Vineyard | Rita's Crown Vineyard |
Vintage Notes | The 2022 vintage wines are immediately appealing, showing fruit-forward aromatics, breadth, and sophistication. Even in the third year of drought, good vine growth was a pleasant surprise. Heavy rains started at the end of November, continued into early December, dried down, and arrived again near bud break, resaturating the soils. Frost in March contributed to a lighter crop. By July the season was tracking on the warmish side indicating an earlier harvest. Temperate weather was interrupted by a big heat wave in early September, which propelled earlier ripening sites into a fast-paced harvest window. |