Soil & Vineyard: Santa Lucia shaly clay loam. From the upper plantings of La Rinconada in deep, dark rocky soils. This is a Mt Eden clone selection brought down and planted early on by Richard Sanford, considered the pioneer of grape growing in the Sta. Rita Hills area.
Production and Aging: Native yeast fermentation using 100% whole clusters with occasional punching down during 3 week maceration before pressing into barrel. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels before bottling. 10% new oak.
The 2019 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard is a heady, dazzling wine. The 100% whole clusters lend striking aromatic top notes that soar out of the glass. Sweet red cherry, sage, rose petal, blood orange and lavender give this beguiling, layered Pinot tons of complexity. Savory, wild and constantly changing in the glass, the Rinconada has so much to offer. This brilliant, captivating Pinot from Racines has so much to offer.
— Antonio Galloni