2015 The Hilt Old Guard Pinot Noir
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The Hilt's 2015 Pinot Noir Old Guard is a big, powerful wine that won't be ready to drink for at least a few years. Ample and dramatic in build, the 2015 exudes richness. A host of red-toned fruit, sage, mint and rose petal notes get an extra kick of aromatic lift from the whole clusters. The 2015 finishes with great focus and intensity especially for the year. This is a remarkable wine in every way. The 2015 is mostly Sanford & Benedict, with some fruit from Radian.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Old Guard has pronounced black cherries, black raspberries and anise on the nose, with a stems-inspired, herbal undercurrent, lending plenty of spice box and savory notions. Medium-bodied and led by a structure of chewy tannins and lively acidity, it has a great core of earthy/savory layers and finishes on a peppery note.
The Old Guard cuvée always shows an earthier character, and the 2015 Pinot Noir Old Guard is no exception. Underbrush, herbs, forest floor and black tea notes are all supported by plenty of black cherry and currant fruit. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured, with lots of ripe tannin, it needs hidden in the back of the cellar for 7-8 years. Farmed to “The Hilt,” these killer Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are made by superstar winemaker Matt Dees. All these latest releases are going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age.
The 2015 Pinot Noir Old Guard soars out of the glass with superb aromatic intensity. Sweet rose petal, sage, raspberry and mint give the 2015 incredible aromatic lift and silkiness. Nuanced and saline to the core, the 2015 might very well be the finest Pinot Noir I have tasted from The Hilt. The blend is 82% Sanford & Benedict and 18% Radian, done with 40% whole clusters.
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.