2014 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

The heart of the vineyards owned by Domaine de la Côte, at the far western edge of the Sta Rita Hills. This site is currently the closest to the ocean within the appellation grown in diatomaceous soils and clay. It stays persistently cool and receives daily exposure to fog. While the rest of the Domaine de la Côte estate is planted entirely to California heritage clones – Mt Eden, Calera, Swan – one block in the La Côte vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir cuttings from Burgundy. The Sandhi La Côte is made entirely from the burgundian block. 100% whole cluster with less extraction (only pump overs, no punch downs) than the Domaine de la Côte La Côte. Aged for 14 months in puncheon. Savoury aromatics of dark cherry and mixed berries mixed through with a dusty-chalky earthiness. The palate shows nice concentration while still carrying a light frame and bright, lifted red fruit flavours. Nicely lithe spine of supple tannins washed with persistent acidity and a refreshing saline snap throughout. The La Côte Pinot from Sandhi is the lightest colour, and lightest touch of the Sandhi Pinots while at the same time offering impressive finesse and freshness. It also shows the contrast of the La Côte site to the other older, heritage vineyards of the appellation. They carry a bigger footprint across the palate and while also savoury and full of acidity do not have quite the same elegance of the La Côte. Compared with the Domaine de la Côte La Côte Pinot Noir, the Sandhi La Côte offers a bit more breadth across the palate as well as (in comparison) more of a focus on pure fruit where the DDLC La Côte shows more complex layering of fine-tuned flavours including more earthy and herbal elements. (ECB)