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Vineyard: Hilliard Bruce
| Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills |
| Story | 21 acres planted on 101 acres starting in 2004. Located off Highway 246 near well known vineyards such as Clos Pepe, Babcock, Melville, Huber, Kessler Haak, Gypsy Canyon, and directly across 246 from Dos Hermanas Vineyard (Ashley's). 17.5 acres of Pinot Noir: Calera, Pommard, 115, 667, 777 and 828. 3.5 acres of Chardonnay: 76, 96. Vertical shoot positioned, irrigated, Certified Sustainable by SIP, 2,420 vines per acre, yields less than 2 tons per acre. Soil is sandy silt, very fast draining, low in organic matter. Solar powered. Compost made on site. |
| Varieties | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir |
Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard
Wineries sourcing from this vineyard
Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard
2010 Hilliard Bruce Sun Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 600 cases,
$55. Can’t get Paul Lato Wines? Try Hilliard Bruce where Paul is the consulting
winemaker. The wines are not identical to Paul’s but his imprint is evident.
Hilliard Bruce planted 21 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on 101 acres
starting in 2004. The vineyards are Certified Sustainable and are located off
highway 246 near Clos Pepe and directly across 246 from Dos Hermanas
Vineyard (formerly Ashley’s). Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 16
months.
·
This wine is beautifully composed offering enticing aromas of ripe
black cherries, dark berries and cardamom spice, and luscious flavors of the
same fruits with added notes of plum, cola and vanilla. Moderately rich with
tannins that threaten to take over now but tend to mellow over time in the glass. The silky texture is very
seductive. This wine is still a bit closed and will benefit from a few more years in the cellar. Very good.
Reviewed October 26, 2012
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2010 Paul Lato “Alegria” Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 75 cases, $70.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very expressive nose, offering hi-tone aromas of berry tart,
dried rose petals, malt and vanilla. Moderately flush with well-ripened dark red and black berries including
ollaliberries, with an accent of new oak and an earthy underbody. Smooth and seamless and quite enticing,
although not quite as expressive as the other wines in this vintage. Very good.
Reviewed October 2, 2012
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2009 Dragonette Cellars Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., 100 cases, $48.
The Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard is located at the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, one-half mile west of Clos Pepe, and is the first vineyard to
be planted in the AVA with close spacing. Planting began in 2005. Clones are 115 and 777. 100% de-stemmed,
7-day cold soak, native and commercial yeast fermentation, aged for 15 months in 25% new French
oak barrels, bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Darker cherry and berry fruit is nicely spiced and encased in grainy
tannins giving a mouth feel with textural interest. A delicious, seductive wine that is surprisingly well-raised
despite the young vines. This meticulously farmed vineyard is fast becoming a superstar in the region.
Very good (+).
Reviewed March 12, 2011
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2009 Paul Lato “Alegria” Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 100 cases, $70.
This vineyard is located on Hwy 246 4.5 miles west of Zotovich Vineyard and just west of Clos Pepe Vineyard. This is the first close-planted vineyard in the Sta.
Rita Hills and is managed by noted Central Coast viticulturist Jeff Newton. Owner John Hilliard is fanatical
about meticulous farming and this is one of the most manicured vineyards in California. The 21-acre vineyard
was planted over three years beginning in 2005 to Dijon clones 115, 667, 777 and 828, Pommard clone, and
Calera selection. This wine contains primarily clone 115 with a tiny amount of 667. Paul says the incoming
grapes were perfect and didn’t require sorting (“Like a well-kept woman”). Aged in 50% new French oak
barrels.
·
Demure aromatics showing darker well-spiced cherry, berry and currant fruits with an underpinning of
forest floor and underbrush. Earthy and mysterious on the palate with firm ripe tannins, a silky mouth feel, and
some persistence on the aromatic finish. A lot to like in this young vines offering.
Reviewed March 13, 2011
WINERY »
ARTICLE »
2010 Hilliard Bruce Sun Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 600 cases, $55. Can’t get Paul Lato Wines? Try Hilliard Bruce where Paul is the consulting winemaker. The wines are not identical to Paul’s but his imprint is evident. Hilliard Bruce planted 21 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on 101 acres starting in 2004. The vineyards are Certified Sustainable and are located off highway 246 near Clos Pepe and directly across 246 from Dos Hermanas Vineyard (formerly Ashley’s). Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 16 months. · This wine is beautifully composed offering enticing aromas of ripe black cherries, dark berries and cardamom spice, and luscious flavors of the same fruits with added notes of plum, cola and vanilla. Moderately rich with tannins that threaten to take over now but tend to mellow over time in the glass. The silky texture is very seductive. This wine is still a bit closed and will benefit from a few more years in the cellar. Very good. Reviewed October 26, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »
2010 Paul Lato “Alegria” Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 75 cases, $70. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very expressive nose, offering hi-tone aromas of berry tart, dried rose petals, malt and vanilla. Moderately flush with well-ripened dark red and black berries including ollaliberries, with an accent of new oak and an earthy underbody. Smooth and seamless and quite enticing, although not quite as expressive as the other wines in this vintage. Very good. Reviewed October 2, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »
2009 Dragonette Cellars Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., 100 cases, $48. The Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard is located at the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, one-half mile west of Clos Pepe, and is the first vineyard to be planted in the AVA with close spacing. Planting began in 2005. Clones are 115 and 777. 100% de-stemmed, 7-day cold soak, native and commercial yeast fermentation, aged for 15 months in 25% new French oak barrels, bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Darker cherry and berry fruit is nicely spiced and encased in grainy tannins giving a mouth feel with textural interest. A delicious, seductive wine that is surprisingly well-raised despite the young vines. This meticulously farmed vineyard is fast becoming a superstar in the region. Very good (+). Reviewed March 12, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »
2009 Paul Lato “Alegria” Hilliard-Bruce Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., 100 cases, $70. This vineyard is located on Hwy 246 4.5 miles west of Zotovich Vineyard and just west of Clos Pepe Vineyard. This is the first close-planted vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and is managed by noted Central Coast viticulturist Jeff Newton. Owner John Hilliard is fanatical about meticulous farming and this is one of the most manicured vineyards in California. The 21-acre vineyard was planted over three years beginning in 2005 to Dijon clones 115, 667, 777 and 828, Pommard clone, and Calera selection. This wine contains primarily clone 115 with a tiny amount of 667. Paul says the incoming grapes were perfect and didn’t require sorting (“Like a well-kept woman”). Aged in 50% new French oak barrels. · Demure aromatics showing darker well-spiced cherry, berry and currant fruits with an underpinning of forest floor and underbrush. Earthy and mysterious on the palate with firm ripe tannins, a silky mouth feel, and some persistence on the aromatic finish. A lot to like in this young vines offering. Reviewed March 13, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »
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