2016 Deovlet Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 750 ml

We can’t remember a new producer’s wines having such an immediate impact on us as Ryan Deovlet’s spectacular Central Coast Pinot Noirs. 

Just one sip of Ryan Deovlet’s Pinot Noir convinced me that us that we needed to bring his wines to Wine Access members. 

With its warm and satisfying dark cherry balsamic note, beautiful volume contained by a very fine tannin structure, and refined and elegant finish, this is beautiful Pinot Noir from a rising star. Because we couldn’t wait for you to try it, we convinced Ryan to allocate 1/3 of his entire production to Wine Access.

Ryan has now made Wine & Spirits magazine’s Top 100 Wineries list three times in just eight vintages, but a decade and a half ago he was a rising star on the baseball diamond. When an injury derailed his career, he settled on law school—but first decided to go on a “surf walkabout,” toiling on organic farms in exchange for room and board. During that time, he was given a copy of The Heartbreak Grape, a landmark book about growing Pinot Noir in California. 

That book sent Ryan home to California, where he went all-in on his new career. “I’m always surprised when people tell me I’m lucky to have found my passion,” he told me early one morning, in his characteristically enthusiastic tone. Passion is a must, he believes, as is buy-in: “You can’t just dip a toe in,” he says. “You gotta make waves. You gotta cannonball that thing.” 

That attitude led him to the World of Pinot Noir event in 2007, where he saw Rick Sanford—the vintner who planted Santa Barbara’s iconic Sanford & Benedict vineyard—on a panel with three other California Pinot pioneers. That day, Sanford said something that made a lasting impact on Ryan: “It’s about the commitment,” he said, starting in on the quote I could tell he’d recited hundreds of times. “It’s about dedication, it’s about perseverance, it’s about the journey. There’s a magic to it, there’s a magic to Pinot Noir.”

Ryan framed that quote, and after a season working in Argentina for Paul Hobbs, took it with him when he met with Rick Sanford face to face. It was a high-stakes moment: the young and hungry winemaker standing before a legend, asking to buy fruit from La Encantada, a vineyard that sits in one of the prime spots in the Sta. Rita Hills. Planted by Sanford himself, the sacred plot is one of the “Grands Crus” of the area.

Convinced by Ryan’s commitment and enthusiasm, Sanford said yes. That deal secured Ryan Pinot Noir from the La Encantada Vineyard, and something far more elusive and valuable: the support of a legend. “Just knowing you’ve got the pioneer behind you, that was very pivotal,” he said. Ryan’s confidence soared. 

Stellar fruit, along with Ryan’s passion and talent and hard work, are leading to success that sometimes still even surprises him. He was in New York in January, for an event with Wine & Spirits. “I look down,” he says, and starts listing the legendary names. “It’s Krug, Bollinger, Lopez de Heredia, Penfolds… and then Deovlet. It’s really inspiring, and humbling.” 

Taste his Pinot, and you’ll be convinced that Ryan Deovlet deserves his spot alongside those marquee wineries. We’re thrilled that our friendship with Ryan earned us the chance to bring this incredible wine to our members. We can’t wait for you to try it.