The 2019 Racines Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir is an elegant, savoury expression of California Pinot Noir created through a remarkable collaboration between Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy’s Domaine de Montille, together with the team behind Racines in the cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills. The project brings a distinctly Burgundian philosophy to some of Santa Barbara County’s most exciting Pinot Noir terroirs. The 2019 Cuvée draws on organically farmed vineyard sites along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, with soils ranging from sandy and clay loam to chert and shale, creating a wine intended to represent the character of Sta. Rita Hills as a whole.
The 2019 is medium-bodied and highly aromatic, showing red cherry and dried cherry alongside violet, mint, tobacco, sage and subtle earthy spice. The style is noticeably savoury and restrained rather than fruit-driven, with bright acidity and fine structure giving the wine an almost Old World sensibility. Racines typically employs significant whole-cluster fermentation, native yeast and extended élevage in French oak; the 2019 spent approximately 17 months in barrel with only around 15% new French oak. Antonio Galloni at Vinous awarded the wine 90 Points, describing it as an ethereal and particularly savoury expression of Pinot Noir, while Allen Meadows at Burghound rated it 89 Points and highlighted its freshness, sleek texture and attractive red-fruit character.
