Ken Brown Wines Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir 2018 Red Wine

Ken Brown Wines Sanford and Benedict Pinot Noir 2018

Sta. Rita Hills, CA

95 pts. Wine Enthusiast:

"This veteran vintner takes on the region’s most iconic vineyard in this bottling. Aromas of blackberry sauce over pecan-topped brioche are rich and layered on the nose. The powerful palate is wrapped in impressive tannins, framing the black-cherry, cola and cardamom flavors." - Matt Kettman

Highly respected and deservedly so, Ken Brown is a master at the art of Pinot Noir winemaking in the Central Coast of California. He has his French oak barrels "air dried" for 3 years before using them, in order to decrease the oak influence on his wines. Ken has skillfully crafted the famous Sanford & Benedict vineyard grapes into a mouth-watering, luscious Pinot! Rich and bold, with clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg spices and a long, savory finish, this full-bodied Pinot is fruit-forward in style without being overwhelming. We're big fans of Ken Brown wines! – Wine Factor

FROM THE WINERY

This vineyard is the cradle of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation and played a significant role in bringing recognition to the great potential of the region. Planted by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in 1971, wines produced from this vineyard continue to set the highest quality standards. This Pinot Noir hails from vines planted in 2008 to the highly regarded clone 943. The soil type is the Botella Series, a composition of both clay and loam with a high calcareous content, which drains well and helps keep yields low.

V I N T A G E

The 2018 vintage was our latest harvest since 2012. Late rains in March were well-timed and budbreak occurred about two weeks later than recent averages. Temperatures throughout the spring and summer remained cool. Nighttime temperatures were consistently chilly as well, in the low to mid-50s, ideal for retaining the natural acidity in the grapes. Canopies were healthy and well positioned to go the distance to ripen the fruit. Berries were small, and yields were customarily low, resulting in excellent concentration and intensity in the fruit. Grapes from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard were harvested on September 13.

W I N E M A K I N G

Pinot Noir clusters for this wine were hand sorted before being de-stemmed and gravity fed to small open top fermenters. The must was immediately chilled for a pre-fermentation cold soak. During fermentation, concentration was enhanced by gently punching down the cap several times per day. The wine aged 22 months in French oak barrels with 40% new oak. This Pinot Noir was bottled unfined and unfiltered on August 11, 2020.

T A S T I N G  N O T E S

In typical Sanford & Benedict fashion, this Pinot Noir displays both intensity and sophistication, featuring a deep garnet hue and bright, expressive aromatics. The nose offers rich aromas of black cherry, blueberry and smoked meat with subtle hints of minerality and white pepper. The silky mouthfeel gives way to vibrant flavors of cherry cobbler and pomegranate with a touch of chocolate malt. The bright acidity and velvety tannins are beautifully intertwined to create an exceptionally balanced wine that will cellar gracefully for years to come.

Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills   T.A. 6.7 g/l
pH 3.35
Alcohol 14.5%
Production 221 cases