2014 Sweetzer Cellars Rita’s Crown Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 148 cases, pH 3.62, TA 0.61, $60. Clones 667 and “828.” 100% de-stemmed, 5-day cold soak, native and RC212 fermentation, aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Engaging aromas of black cherry, fertile earth and toasty oak lead to a middleweight wine boasting a delicious core of cherry and strawberry fruit. Silky in the mouth, with gentle tannins and a seriously long finish. There is a little more oak interplay than I like, but the fruit is so luscious, that is easy to overlook. Score: 92. Reviewed July 21, 2018

Winery: Sweetzer Cellars
From article: Recent Sips of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay