Pinot Noir, Sandhi 2018

Sourced mostly from their Domaine de la Côte estate (70%), the blend is buttressed by old vines fruit from Sanford & Benedict (20%) and a touch from the newcomer, the Patterson Vineyard (10%).  Domaine de la Côte is a collection of five vineyards, planted in 2007, in the far western reaches of the Sta. Rita Hills, seven miles from the Pacific Ocean. Partners Raj and Sashi started this collaboration with intent. Intent on the best location for Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County hills with faults and folds, that encourage a rhythmic combination of wind, fog and sun), the best ecological practices (biodynamically and organically grown), the best final product (consulting equally between memory and intuition, they make use of the whole grape cluster and ferment without additives or temperature control, in wine barrels assembled by a single cooper). Employing the wisdom and talents of people who know the vineyards, Sandhi is dedicated to making wines of finesse, minerality, acidity, structure and balance. Wine achieves power and beauty through the seamless integration of these qualities, and this is the inspiration for Sandhi. Their belief is that wines exhibiting extreme ripeness, alcohol, oak, and other discordant exaggerations cannot truly express a specific vineyards terroir.