Our Lady of Guadalupe ( OLG ), Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, California, 2022

Overview of the Wine
For many years, we’ve been coming down to the Santa Barbara region in search of the highest quality Pinot Noir in California. We’ve sourced fruit from across the county and have been introduced to special, well-known vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. We fell hard for the area and were lucky enough to find a diamond in the rough—an abandoned row crop farm on the western edge of the AVA. With barns full of coloring books, formidable pitbulls and chunks of diatomaceous earth protruding from the soil, we purchased the property in 2015. Over the first two years, we fed the soils with compost, gypsum, lime and nitrogen-fixing cover crop. With the renewed soil health, we planted our first set of vines at Our Lady of Guadalupe (OLG) in 2018, followed by subsequent plantings in 2019 and 2020.

After extensive tastings of Pinot Noir from California, we homed in on a favored style—blends of different clones, typical Dave Phinney. Nine different clones of Pinot Noir were planted across 127 acres, in addition to six acres of Old Wente Chardonnay—our favorite selection. Each clone was chosen to suit its specific site, where unique microclimates and soil impact each block differently. Strategically chosen rootstocks were paired with specific clones with quality being the only factor in mind. Rootstocks were chosen to match the soil composition, aspect, wind exposure, and ripening potential. All plant material aside from the Archery Summit 828 selection are Protocol 2010 certified. We went the extra mile in independently testing each selection, knowing we had one shot to start with clean material. Focused on highlighting clones, microclimates and soils, we planted OLG’s blocks purposefully, with fermenter size in mind. This is truly a winemaker’s vineyard.

This vineyard was planted for and by Dave Phinney.  It reflects his excruciating attention to detail.  With a focus on showing the terroir of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dave Phinney is producing single-vineyard wines from the property starting with the 2021 vintage.

Sustainable.

Grape / Blend
100% Pinot Noir

Origin
Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The 2022 OLG Pinot Noir pours a dark persimmon core with a lucid rose hip rim. Laden with elegant aromatics, notes of bright raspberry and bing cherry develop into darker tones of black cherry, mocha and mahogany. On the palate, the entry is scrumptiously soft with cranberry crunch, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and a touch of maritozzo. Typical of the Sta. Rita Hills, the finish is lined with minerality and some saline hints with closing touches of fennel and anise.

96 Points - Decanter
Alluring candied cherry notes are scented with expressive cedarwood laced with fragrant cumin and flamed orange peel. A polished wine on entry with silky textured fruit so pure and so ripe and bright and perfectly expressive of black cherry, black plum, Red Delicious apple, and layers of baking spices. Satiny tannins glide up against a juicy acid profile, building to a finish of cocoa nib nuances and fresh garrigue notes. Juicy, structured, and delicious, it leaves one in a perpetual state of wanting for more. Phinney's team includes Amy Whiteford, director of viticulture, Chris Hussey, assistant winemaker, and Mike Testa, the vineyard manager. Our Lady of Guadalupe is unquestionably one to watch as the vines mature. Number eight of my top 10 wines of 2023.

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Combining herbaceous elements with a richer frame, this is an exciting early release for this vineyard that straddles the western edge of the already cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills, where it's blasted directly by Pacific fog and winds. Aromas of brambleberry, seared rosemary and smoked herb lead from the nose into a savory palate of black pepper, clove, menthol and roasted mulberry.

94 Points - Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir Our Lady of Guadalupe is a hugely promising wine from Dave Phinney's new OLG Our Lady of Guadalupe label. Aromatic, deep and potent, the 2022 has so much going on. Crushed flowers, spice, plum, menthol and licorice all build in the glass. Hints of pomegranate, new leather and blood orange build into deep, resonant finish.

92 Points - Wine Advocate
A beautiful combination of understated and confident, the 2022 Pinot Noir Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard opens with a pure, floral nose before taking a dark, rich, sumptuous turn on the palate. The finish is refined, chalky and quite energetic, calling back the brighter nature of the nose to conclude on a high-toned, pretty note.

Product size: 750ml