rose hip oil and sassafras
Attractive nose of cooked black and red fruit
Finished for many days in Charmat tanks
The fruit and minerality merge with the oak showcasing the purity of the terroir
It will win with its stay in the bottle
2022 Dragonette Cellars Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills, USA Montevideo rose hip oil and sassafrasMoving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills comes from a mix of sites (mostly Fiddlestix, radian, and Sanford & Benedict) and saw 15 months in neutral oak. Its medium ruby hue is followed by a complex, medium bodied 2022 that has some gamey, iodine like character in its savory red fruits, leafy herb, bay leaf, and forest, earthy nuances. I love its overall balance, and it has terrific complexity and a satisfying, lively, upfront