2015 | The Hilt | Vanguard Pinot Noir

So much wild black fruit. Plum and blackberry. High toned and pure. Tons of flesh, but also so muscular. Smokey and resinous with air. Hints of black licorice, mint, dried sage and even dried chorizo. Texturally fascinating wine. A statuesque wine full of fruit density, chalky tannins and vibrancy. A wine with high shoulders and great posture. Serious pinot noir that is just getting started. Just spreading its wings. Density, fruit purity and long lasting tannic structure.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard leaps from the glass with frisky Bing cherries, pomegranate and fresh cranberry notes plus hints of violets, cinnamon stick and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate gives a great intensity of crunchy, vibrant red berry flavors, framed by lovely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

• Wine Spectator: The 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard comes from slightly younger vines and see a portion aged in new French oak. It's similarly colored to the Old Guard cuvée but offers more fruit and polish on the nose. Cassis, dried cranberries, dried flowers and hints of mint all emerge from this layered, beautifully concentrated, focused Pinot Noir that's slightly more approachable than the Old Guard cuvée, yet should be just as long lived. It needs 3-5 years of cellaring to show its true potential.
  

Producer Information

Wines defined by place, style and time. In the southwest corner of Sta. Rita Hills AVA lies a rugged, windswept, coastal vineyard, called The Hilt Estate; estate grower producer of stunning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reflective of this dynamic corner of California.Pushing the limits; in the farthest southwest reach of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is home to Radian & Bentrock Vineyards, these vineyards dictate The Hilt style.The numerous microclimates and unique soils provide a multilayered backdrop to create 3 unique expressions: Estate, The Guards, and Single Vineyards.In 2014, Matt Dees, Ruben Solorzano & team took on operation and farming of Radian and Bentrock Vineyards and shifted to precise sustainable & organic farming to transform and revitalize the soil.

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