2014 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

The star of the Domaine de la Côte property, the La Côte vineyard shows good quality consistently vintage to vintage. Planted mid slope, the site is less exposed to wind than Siren’s Call. This portion of the vineyard primarily grows in soils full of diatomaceous earth, schist and chert mixed into clay loam. The clusters and berries show the effects of the soil, with clusters generally coming in small enough to fit inside the palm though fuller and more consistent than Siren’s Call. The wine is vinified 100% whole cluster and aged in Ermitage barrel for almost two years, around 20% new. Star-bright, transparent ruby. Perfumed and floral aromatics with notes of rose and cherry blossom are pretty upon opening. The palate carries dusty rose and alpine cherry through a long savoury band with light hints of smoke, a dusting of baking spices and a faint note of camphor. There is plenty of power here carried on a light-bodied wine and the finish is extended and ample thanks to tons of palate-stimulating sapidity. The La Côte offers more integrated and supple tannins with a silky mouthfeel compared with the lightly dry and firm, tactile tannins of the Siren’s Call. Nicely balanced acidity and an ultra-long finish. The La Côte Pinot has an investment in elegance with still a sense of lush generosity – not of size but of flavour and presence. There is a nice integration of elements – rose petal, pure red fruits, with a touch of almost chalky character, all well wed to the tannins and carried by fresh acidity – through a very long finish. The La Côte is the most harmonious and balanced of the single-vineyard designates currently. Charming, beautiful and delicious with a silken texture. Allow to evolve in the glass with air and enjoy even over several days as it becomes more savoury and sophisticated with air. The purity of the wine also increases with air. This wine will continue to develop in bottle for a long time. (ECB)

The 2014 Pinot Noir La Côte is utterly beguiling in the glass. The aromatics alone are enticing, but the wine is much less forthcoming on the palate. Readers will have to be patient with the 2014, as it needs time. Beams of tannin and acidity give the wine its overall shape. There is quite a bit to look forward to. This is an especially austere style for the Sta. Rita Hills that speaks to the marginal growing conditions of this site near the Pacific Ocean.