Nose
The 2018 Joel Gott Santa Barbara Pinot Noir has aromas of black cherries, plums
and chocolate with notes of cedar.
Palate
On the palate, the wine opens with bright fruit flavors and acidity, leading to a round mouthfeel on the mid-palate and soft, velvety tannins with earthy notes on a long, elegant finish.
Harvest
Across California in 2018, the growing season was long and even, with moderate
winter rains resulting in later than usual bud break. A warm spring followed by a midsummer heat wave and cooler temperatures in the fall, caused us to pick our fruit a
little later than in previous years. These conditions allowed fruit to ripen evenly at a
steady pace, making for a well-balanced wine.
Winemaking
After harvest, the wine was fermented in open-top fermenters and punched down
twice daily. This gentler and more traditional form of cap management helps to retain
the soft tannin structure of Pinot Noir.
Aging
The wine is aged in 20% new French
oak and 80% 1 & 2-year-old French oak.