2012 The Hilt Vanguard Pinot Noir
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The 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard is a stunningly beautiful, dramatic wine endowed with massive flavor intensity and sheer richness, featuring inky blue/purplish fruit, menthol, licorice and spice. There is not much subtlety here, and yet this wine is simply glorious. Fruit sources are Sanford & Benedict, Radian and Bentrock.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2012 Pinot Noir Vanguard comes mostly from the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, yet has 15% of the blend coming from Bien Nacido. Aged in 45% new French oak, it’s a rich, muscular effort that has lots of underbrush and herbs to go with toast, spice, black raspberry and currant-styled fruit. This concentrated, yet layered and seamless beauty will drink well for over a decade. One of the top Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers in Santa Barbara County, The Hilt is managed by the team at Jonata, with up-and-coming superstar winemaker Matt Dees making the wines. They two Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in each vintage, a younger vine cuvee, the Vanguard, and an old vine cuvee, the Old Guard. Both are superb and if you have any interest in Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, you need to check out these wines! Tel. (805) 564 8581; www.thehiltwines.com
The 2012 Pinot Noir The Vanguard opens with expressive, perfumed aromatics. Supple and expressive, the 2012 is wonderfully radiant on the palate, with gorgeous depth and terrific overall balance. Dark red cherry, plum and spice notes flesh out on the inviting finish. Slight hints of gaminess add the final layers of nuance. The 2012 is 85% Sanford and Benedict and 15% Bien Nacido fruit.
The 2012 Pinot Noir Vanguard is rich, powerful and voluptuous, yet retains tons of underlying structure. Dark red cherries, licorice and spices all flesh out on the radiant finish. The 2012 is a blend of fruit from Sanford & Benedict (85%) and Bien Nacido (15%). Winemaker Matt Dees used 45% new oak on the 2012 Vanguard.
About the producer
The Hilt is the Santa Rita Hills project owned by sports and property mogul billionaire Stan Kroenke, who also owns Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley and the Jonata estate in the California’s Ballard Canyon AVA.