As is always the case, our Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir is a blend of Clos Pepe and Cargasacchi
Vineyards. Certainly, the blend changes from vintage to vintage, in 2007 it is a blend of 71%
Clos Pepe and 29% Cargasacchi fruit, but each year the point is largely the same….create a lush,
more immediate wine that still represents the Sta. Rita Hills Appellation. In 2007 that process
was made much easier by what is undeniably an outstanding Pinot Noir vintage in the region.
One of the winemaking details that has evolved over the vintages as we gain more experience
with Sta. Rita Hills fruit is our use of whole clusters in the fermentation. Whole cluster Pinot
Noir fermentation possesses many positive attributes including increased complexity and, in the
case of SRH Pinots, a slight decrease in what can be excessive levels of acidity. But whole clusters
can also increase tannins and some Sta. Rita Pinots have substantial tannins already. Thus
we have been very cautious in increasing the whole clusters in these wines doing so only when
the vintage and the vineyard allow for it.
With the 2007 Sta. Rita Pinot we used about 1/3 whole cluster in the Clos Pepe component but
only 20% in the Cargasacchi wine. We believe that these quantities gave us the complexity that
we desired without undue tannins.
The 2007 Siduri Sta. Rita Hills shows wonderful notes of rose petal, lilac, blackberry, and raspberry
on the nose. The mouth is full, rich, and seamless, exhibiting a wonderful velvet-like texture
and concentrated fruit flavors joined by vanilla and hints of dried herbs. The finish is persistent,
dancing on a balance beam of fine tannins and acidity. We have no doubts that this wine
will age well but it is so compelling now that we can’t keep our hands off of it.
Production:: 511 cases
Released: February 2009
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