2022 Deovlet - Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict (750ml)
Ryan Deovlet built his winery around a deep familiarity with the Santa Rita Hills, sourcing fruit from just a handful of vineyards he has come to know intimately, including the historic Sanford & Benedict site. His winemaking style favors restraint, with mostly destemmed fruit and an oak regime that keeps new wood to a modest fifteen to twenty percent, allowing each vineyard's character to come through with clarity. Deovlet has earned a reputation among Central Coast producers for consistency and precision, and his wines are frequently singled out among the region's finest.
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard was planted in 1971 by Richard Sanford, who recognized early on the unusual advantage of the Santa Rita Hills, a coastal range running east to west rather than parallel to the shore, leaving it fully exposed to cooling ocean influence. That extended growing season and consistent marine air give the fruit a natural balance between ripeness and freshness. The 2022 Pinot Noir comes from several blocks within the property, fermented with a light touch and aged in a mix of French oak barrels to preserve the site's aromatic detail.
The wine offers a layered mix of red and purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, and warm spice, with pomegranate and strawberry notes that build with air. The palate is spicy and concentrated, framed by chalky tannins and juicy acidity that carry through a long, structured finish. It pairs beautifully with duck breast, roasted mushrooms, or a simple herb-crusted pork loin.