2013 Western Gate Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills

Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir at 47% Off? Why? HOW?!

Born and bred in Santa Barbara, John Faulkner landed a job with Fiddlehead Cellars immediately after graduating from UC Berkeley — it would be a pivotal experience for the budding winemaker. Comparable only to Sea Smoke, Fiddlehead’s Pinot Noirs have garnered the highest scores (and prices) of any Sta. Rita Hills Pinot over the past 15+ years. In the small Lompoc winery, John crafted Fiddlehead Pinot Noirs for four consecutive vintages alongside owner-winemaker Kathy Joseph.

After completing what he calls the “Kathy Joseph Graduate Program,” as well as a residency in France, John’s career shifted into overdrive when he landed the most coveted winemaking job on the Central Coast. Sashi Moorman brought Faulkner on as associate winemaker for the winery group that includes Rajat Parr’s Sandhi Winery, Domaine de la Côte, and Evening Land, as well as Tom and Pete Stolpman’s Stolpman Vineyards. Together, this elite group has earned an incredible 71 ratings of 92 points or more from Parker, Galloni, and Wine Spectator for Pinot Noir since 2010.

Being the right-hand man to Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman not only meant a healthy dose of methodology and theory, but also regular marathon tastings of Burgundy’s best. So when Sashi and Raj gave John their blessing to make a few tons of wine on his own, he hit the ground running.

To begin, John went straight to the oldest, most revered source in Sta. Rita Hills, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. Planted in 1971 by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict, the eponymous vineyard lies only a few miles from Point Conception and the chilly waters of the Pacific on the southern California Coast. Sanford and Benedict opted to plant Pinot Noir, suspecting that mild summer temperatures rarely topping 80 degrees and an extended growing season could be magical for the world’s most floral and complex variety. They were right.

We will never forget tasting the 1976 Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir in the spring of 1980. Fresh off our first trip to the Côte de Nuits in the summer of 1979, when we tasted dozens of bottles from the warm 1976 vintage, Richard and Michael’s first commercial release would have felt perfectly at home in a lineup of Premier Cru Gevrey-Chambertins. 38 years later, Faulkner crafted an equally impressive, bright, juicy, deeply aromatic Pinot Noir that is just now beginning to hit its heights of complexity.

Vinified in stainless steel, aged for 13 months in 20% new oak, Faulkner’s tiny-production Western Gate Pinot is bright, vivid red in color. Aromas of raspberry and cherry burst from the glass, complemented by smoke and spice. Elegant and finessed, the palate is loaded with primary red fruit accented by hints of chocolate, rose petals, and sweet herbs. Silky tannins provide gentle grip to the long, fresh finish.

With all that firepower, why — no, HOW are we offering Faulkner’s brand-new 2013 Western Gate Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard for 47% off? As we were told, when you’re working for Parr and Moorman, between Sandhi Winery, Domaine de la Côte, Evening Land, and Stolpman, there are no days off. At this very moment, Faulkner is neck-deep in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Plans to drive up the 101 to San Francisco for distribution meetings never materialized, but an early harvest did.

Today’s price reflects only the cost of fruit, glass, labeling, and cork — not a penny more. We like it so much we might buy it retail once John has time to establish distribution. In the meantime, we recommend stocking up on the 2013 by the caseload, direct from Lompoc.

Listed at $55, just $29 this morning for a knockout Pinot from the most prestigious vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. This is a bona fide steal. Bank on it.

• ABV 13.00%
• Enjoy right away
• % Pinot Noir