Sanctuary Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
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Veteran winemaker Dennis Martin’s take on the Miller family’s famous vineyard presents pretty aromas of violet, red rose and black raspberry, along with turned earth and wet mushroom. It’s soft on the palate, with pomegranate and beet juice, anise and shiitake.
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A confluence of characteristics—soil, climate, elevation, sun exposure—creates a harmonious interplay between grape variety and vineyard site. The right terroir can bring a specific grape to its ultimate expression, making the vineyard a sanctuary.
Our winemaker seeks iconic sites, farmed by generations of experts who intuitively understand how to coax pure varietal character from the vines. In the glass, Sanctuary presents classically styled wines that reflect their distinct origins. These wines include a Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley, a Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rutherford Bench.
Santa Maria Valley lies mainly in northern Santa Barbara County, with a small portion of it overlapping southern San Luis Obispo County. It is close to the Pacific, and runs east-west, which means warmer air in the eastern end draws cool air off the ocean in the west, and brings it through the valley. This effect, combined with abundant sunshine, lengthens the growing season. The longer growing season leads to long hang time, which promotes both ripeness and optimal acidity levels in grape berries. As early as the 1970’s, Santa Maria Valley was recognized as being a superior source of wine grapes, certainly including Chardonnay and Syrah. But arguably the top variety here is Pinot Noir.
Originally a domain primarily of growers, including the Miller Family of the justifiably famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, this AVA is now home to over 30 wineries. Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir consistently offers full flavors of cherry, strawberry and raspberry, often accompanied by notes of spice, cola, vanilla and earth. They show impressive balance and elegance, as well as great versatility with food.