Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills California, 2020, 750
Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills California, 2020, 750
WE 96
"Candied strawberry and raspberry aromas are spiced up by cinnamon, sumac and peppercorn on the lively, complex and alluring nose of this bottling from the region's iconic winery. The palate is fresh and juicy with strawberry sorbet, rosewater and white pepper flavors, proving both hedonistic and detailed." (MK)
Decanter 95
"Whiffs of smoked hazelnuts, crushed peppercorns and black cherry preserves introduce this powerfully concentrated yet thrillingly, even lifted expression of California Pinot Noir. It's gorgeously, decadently ripe yet not at all bruising in fruit character, a finely filigreed palate lined with streaks of acidity and a earthen, dusty vein of minerality. The finish settles on fine-grained yet sweet, ashen tannins and a subtle twist of balsamic soaked strawberries." (AL)
From the Winery:
Winemaking: Hand-harvested, clusters were sorted in the
vineyard and then gently destemmed following an evening in our cold
room. All ‘jack stems’ were removed on the sorting table. Musts were
cold soaked in open-top fermenters for five days, and then inoculated
with cultured yeasts to begin slow fermentation. Each tank was
manually punched down two times per day, with a total maceration
time of sixteen to twenty-eight days. Upon completion of primary
fermenta-tion and maceration, all free run wine was transferred to
tank for set-tling, and then pressed at extremely low pressure (0.08
bars) to avoid extracting bitterness. After settling overnight both free-
run and press wines were racked to barrels. Ten was bottled with no
fining and no filtration.
Character: A brooding and intense wine. The aromas begin with
notes of blueberry, cassis, a hint of lavender followed by a myriad of
exotic spices, some hazelnut, thyme and an element of licorice. Firm,
mature tannins—evidence of Ten’s ageability—are followed by a long,
velvety finish.
