Lloyd Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2019
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Harvested at a lower brix level that previous vintages, this Pinot Noir still retains notes of brambly fruits, cherry cola, and spice, however, there is a more elegant finish to their 2019 than in previous vintages. These integrated flavors are backed by toasty oak providing exceptional depth, length, and texture.
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The carmine hue is deep and inviting, as are the sensual scents of heather and woodsy forest. The full and generous palate is lathered with huckleberry and dark chocolate–covered coffee bean; layers of tilled soil and dried flowers keep it exciting and complex. Brown sugar and cinnamon go deep on the finish.
Other Vintages
2015-
Jeb
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Robert
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Enthusiast
At this point, Rob decided to become a Winemaker, so his next step was to enroll in the Enology program at the University of California, Davis where he obtained his Masters Degree in Enology in 1999. During his schooling, Rob interned at Kent Rasmussen Winery, gaining first hand knowledge about winemaking while at Davis.
After graduating, Rob became the Enologist and then Assistant Winemaker at La Crema in Sonoma. Returning to the Napa Valley, he joined Rombauer Vineyards in 2001, as Assistant Winemaker and then Winemaker until his resignation in mid-2008. While at Rombauer, the winery received many new accolades and awards for their wines including being named by Wine Spectator as one of the Top 100 wines in the world in 2007.
With the desire to assist vineyard owners in creating the finest wines from their grapes, Rob established Lloyd Wine Consulting and now works with his clients to craft world-class wines. Rob is passionate about maximizing the potential of each vineyard and translating this into outstanding and unique wines.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.