- 94 points -
April 2023 (Vintage 2020)Aromas of blueberries with wrought iron and metal shavings with some sliced strawberries with white tops. Full to medium body. Firm tannins and fresh acidity. Racy. Narrow.
See detailed press reviewPinot Noir Southing
2021
All of Sea Smoke’s grapes come from a rugged, foggy (or “sea smoky”) vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills region of Santa Barbara County. From these grapes, the Sea Smoke team creates two beautiful Pinot Noirs: Southing and Ten as well as Chardonnay and a 100% Pinot Noir méthode champenoise sparkling wine called Sea Spray. The Sea Smoke vineyard is planted with 10 different clones of Pinot Noir as well as Chardonnay spread across 39 hectares, creating many combinations of soil, clone and...
See the SEA SMOKE detail page for more information on this brand
Southing refers to the south-facing hillside bluffs found on our estate vineyard. Each year, our goal for this wine is to create the ideal marriage of complexity and elegance. Southing is a true expression of the terroir of Sea Smoke Vineyard: seductive flavors and fine tannins complimented by cool climate acidity.
Hand-harvested, clusters were sorted in the vineyard and then gently destemmed following an evening in our cold room. All ‘jack stems’ were removed on the sorting table. Musts were cold soaked in open-top fermenters for five days, and then inoculated with cultured yeasts to begin slow fermentation. Each tank was manually punched down two times per day, with a total maceration time of fourteen to eighteen days. Upon completion of primary fermentation and maceration, all free run wine was transferred to tank for settling and then pressed at extremely low pressure (0.08 bars) to avoid extracting bitterness. After settling overnight both free-run and press wines were racked to barrels. Southing was bottled with no fining and no filtration.
Each year, our goal for Southing is to create the ideal marriage of complexity and elegance. Southing exhibits aromas of fresh strawberry, rose water, Rainier cherry and subtle baking spices. The fine tannins and minerality are enhanced by our estate vineyard’s characteristic cool climate acidity.
Aromas of blueberries with wrought iron and metal shavings with some sliced strawberries with white tops. Full to medium body. Firm tannins and fresh acidity. Racy. Narrow.
See detailed press review