2022 The Hilt - Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills (750ml)

The Hilt is a project from the owners of Screaming Eagle, built around a singular vision for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the rugged, wind-battered southwest corner of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Winemaker Matt Dees crafts the estate's wines from three distinct vineyards, Bentrock, Radian, and Puerta del Mar, choosing from a diverse range of clonal plantings across the property to shape each bottling's character.

The estate's poor soils force vines to root deep in search of nutrients, while constant maritime winds and cool days and nights slow ripening and preserve natural acidity even under strong California sun. Vines are deliberately kept low in vigor to concentrate flavor in the fruit. The 2022 Estate Pinot Noir centers on old-vine fruit from Radian and Bentrock, benefiting from naturally low yields and a warmer-than-average growing season that added extra concentration.

The wine offers black cherry, dark berries, and leafy herbs, with notes of sage, rose, and warm spice building toward licorice and mocha. Medium-bodied yet plush, it carries fine-grained tannins through a long, layered finish. Pair it with seared foie gras, roasted pheasant, or clothbound cheddar.