A tremendous amount of effort has gone into fine tuning the vineyard to coax this fickle grape into producing the exotic, elusive flavors only pampered Pinot Noir will reveal. Bruce chose 8 clones from 15 vineyard lots picked at ripeness over a four week period.  The wine was aged in French oak from Burgundy (18% new oak). The nose has an earthy presence, with damp soil and nutmeg that accent tangy strawberry fruit. Frost damage affected yields, leading to a tremendous dark berry fruit concentration that adds weight to the red fruit vibrancy. The intensity from this vintage will reward cellaring through 2016, with 2010 being a great year to begin enjoying this wine. This Pinot Noir took Gold medals at both the Los Angeles International Wine Competition and the Riverside International Wine Competition. The complexity of flavor makes for a classic match with grilled salmon or mushrooms.

The Santa Rita Hills is a small appellation at the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley that has gained national recognition for its Pinot Noir. The resulting wines from this cool climate show great degrees of ripeness while still maintaining bright acidity for a balanced style of California Pinot Noir.