Rancho Las Hermanas 2021 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot

From the windswept slopes of the Sta. Rita Hills comes a Pinot Noir that embodies the delicate tension between sun and sea, warmth and restraint. The 2021 Rancho Las Hermanas Pinot Noir is a masterwork born from one of California’s most coveted cool-climate regions, where nature paints with a steady, patient hand. Here, the interplay of Pacific breezes, ancient marine soils, and the shifting light of the Central Coast creates a vivid portrait of terroir—one expressed through purity, precision, and depth.

The north-facing Rancho Las Hermanas vineyard, nestled among the Purisima Hills, yields fruit of remarkable character. The 2021 vintage was cool and deliberate, extending ripening while preserving acidity and nuance. Winemaker Lorna Kreutz approached this wine with minimal intervention, allowing native yeasts to guide fermentation in open-top stainless steel tanks before the wine was aged for 18 months in 40 percent new French oak from Gamba and Taransaud. The result is an eloquent and seamless Pinot Noir that captures both the natural grace of the vineyard and the disciplined artistry behind it.

On the nose, the wine opens with fresh boysenberry and hints of cracked black pepper, an aromatic profile both alluring and complex. The palate is immediately engaging—supple, full-bodied, and richly textured—where layers of black cherry cola, wild blackberry, and subtle forest spice unfold with effortless harmony. A thread of bright acidity lends focus and lift, while fine-grained tannins echo softly on a finish marked by black tea and lingering minerality.

This is a Pinot Noir that transcends mere ripeness or power; it speaks in tone and texture, in precision and poise. Each sip reveals another dimension of the Sta. Rita Hills—the cool Pacific influence, the marine sediment, the understated strength of the Pommard clone. At 14.3 percent alcohol, it remains perfectly balanced, the oak integration enhancing structure without overshadowing fruit.

The 2021 Rancho Las Hermanas Pinot Noir is a wine for those who seek authenticity and refinement, a collector’s expression that rewards both immediate pleasure and cellar patience. It is California Pinot Noir at its most articulate: vibrant yet grounded, expressive yet restrained. From vineyard to glass, it captures the quiet grandeur of its origin and the unwavering pursuit of purity that defines the Sta. Rita Hills.

Alcohol: 14.3%

94 POINTS - "A gorgeous pinot with strawberry, cantaloupe and sea shell character. Medium-bodied with a tangy fresh acidity and a long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of bitterness. A crunchy, juicy wine. Shows the real Santa Rita Hills character." - James Suckling

92 POINTS - "Cherry and berry aromas are layered in sage sticks, peppercorn and loamy soil on the nose of this bottling, which sports a visually stunning nautilus label. The palate picks up a smoked berry flavor, indicative of oak aging." - Wine Enthusiast

The 2021 RLH Block Series Pinot Noir was sourced solely from block W on the Rancho Las Hermanas vineyard. The wine underwent native yeast fermentation in stainless steel open top-fermenters, then drained from tank directly to barrel prior to press. The free run was kept separate before being blended back with the pressed portion to create tannin balance and finesse. The lots were aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak barrels from the Gamba and Taransaud cooperages.

Beautiful aromatics of fresh boysenberry fruit with hints of spicy black pepper. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a juicy mouthfeel reminiscent of fresh blackberries and black cherry cola that lingers with a finish of black tea tannin and black pepper.