2018 Ancien Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., 181 cases, $58. · 100% de-stemmed, 5-day cold soak. Inoculated with proprietary yeasts for primary fermentation. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels, a majority new. Wine held for a year after bottling before release. Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. A fruit-driven nose displaying aromas of Bing cherry and boysenberry with minor notes of rose petal, herb cracker and nutty oak. A sappy core of purple berry and plum fruit is deep on the palate. Beautifully crafted, with integrated tannins, bright acidity and a milky softness. The vivid and flamboyant finish is amazingly persistent. I can’t say enough good things about this wine that is the best from this vineyard that I have tasted in recent memory. Score: 95. Reviewed September 19, 2021

Winery: Ancien Wines
From article: Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards III: Central Coast - Sta. Rita Hills