2019 Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyard

Awards

Wine Enthusiast 94 points

"Strawberry compote and peppery spices meet with a umami-laced charcuterie depth on the nose of this bottling from a very coastally influenced site. Dried beef and smoked-pork flavors meet with the tart cranberry and strawberry core of the palate, making for a complex mix of fresh and savory." 

--Matt Kettman

Food Pairing

Pair with skirt steak, pork with cherry compote, quail with dates and bacon, or grilled scallops. Sea salt chocolate chip cookies will satisfy your final act pairing.

Production Notes

Clone Pinot Noir 113; 151 cases produced

Tasting Notes

The Burmese ruby color of this exquisite wine is a flying magic carpet into the world of Pinot Noir. The nose entices with a cacophony of aromas, such as plum and cherry, and subtle hints of coffee and red licorice. Cola, which is a signature aroma of Santa Maria Valley AVA, takes you in the trajectory of an ice cream parlor. The palate is very fruity, bright and lean, with spice on the finish. The wine is very approachable with youthful tannins calling out like Juliet from her balcony.

Vineyard Notes

Solomon Hills is a stunning vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, planted in 1999 and under the stewardship of the Miller Family’s vineyard crew. One of the coolest vineyard sites in the area, Solomon Hills nestles in a beautiful swale off of Highway 101 and Clark Road, southwest of the family’s other Santa Maria Valley vineyard, Bien Nacido. The vineyard is divided into four different blocks with each of these planted to a specific clone and rootstock best suited to soil type and microclimate. The rows designated for Flying Goat are Dijon clone 113, which ripens early and expresses the nuances of the vineyard terroir. The block can be seen from the highway as it undulates up to the water tower at the top of the hillside. The vineyard continues to show maturity that was not apparent before 2009.