2021 10 Ninths "Radius" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Tart aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and pine needle make for a fresh, herby nose on this bottling from the new name for the former Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. The palate exhibits the earthy, stemmy style that excels in this appellation, offering more pine needle and seaweed notes against tart red fruit and warm spice flavors, as the acidity and texture lingers long.

A lovely, complex bottle of Pinot Noir that really leans into the genuinely cool-climate nature of the region. There’s no cherry-fruit bomb here. Instead, the wine delivers Amaro-like alpine herbs, black raspberry, pomegranate, bramble leaf, forest floor, and damp earth. The fruit is expertly interwoven with more nuanced savory elements of coastal chaparral and earthy tones, creating a wine with real intrigue and dimension. It’s drinking beautifully with a few years of bottle age, but still really unfurls with 30 minutes in the decanter. A captivating Pinot Noir.