2017 Racines Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 750 ml

This wine disappeared within minutes of opening the bottle... a conclusion that makes absolute sense considering the all-star team of Pinot Noir mavericks behind the first-ever Racines La Rinconada Vineyard Pinot Noir. This is the inaugural vintage of a collaboration between Justin Willett, owner-winemaker of Tyler Winery, Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Domaine de Montille in Burgundy, and Rodolphe Péters of Pierre Péters in Champagne... and it won't last long.

The 2017 bursts with dense, rich flavors of roasted black cherries, mint tea, and licorice. Bursts of toasted spices and fresh herbs carry on from the first swirl through the wine's soft, lingering finish. Across the palate, winemaking mastery is on full display in the '17's  smooth and effortlessly luxurious texture. Flavorful yet refreshing, Decanter calls it “suave and spicy with an elegant finish.” 

The story of Racines is one of serendipity. After a chance meeting, a nudge from famed sommelier Raj Parr, Etienne de Montille, a California skeptic, traveled to meet and taste with Justin. And the relationship leading to this stellar wine was born, which eventually came to include Etienne’s chef de cave Brian Sieve, and Rodolphe Peters (a close friend of Etienne). Justin’s knowledge of the region paired with the winemaking sensibilities of the others translates into an impossibly complex and ethereal expression of Burgundian grapes in California.

The entire inaugural line-up is impressive, though we found endless complexity and beauty within the 2017 La Rinconada Pinot Noir. Sourced from a vineyard adjacent to the famed Sanford & Benedict, this debut vintage showcases the incredible skill and experience of this singular team. We got our hands on all that we could to share with a handful of Pinot fanatics—trust us when we say that this is a wine built to impress now and for many years to come.