2022 Pinot Noir Black Label, Sta. Rita Hills
The Black Label program was forged from a single barrel in 2010 that simply insisted that we create a cuvee of our most expressive Pinot Noirs from our favorite vineyards. Since then, this wine has gone on to become a Club favorite and to garner consistently high critical praise and even a 100 point score (from Jeb Dunnuck on 2019 version). We think the 2022 follows nicely in the footsteps of the past successes.
The 2022 Black Label is comprised of wines that are: 35% Fiddlestix, 35% Radian, 12% Bentrock, 12% Sanford & Benedict, & 6% Rancho La Vina. The blend comes from lots that were 89% destemmed and 11% whole cluster. The wine was aged on its lees for 19 months in French oak barrels (50% new) and bottled unfined & unfiltered. We think it is remarkably expressive for such a dramatically scaled, well structured wine, and its silky texture and impeccable balance will yield a tremendous aging curve. Drink 2026-2038+.
The 2022 wine has not yet been rated, but the 2021 was 97 points Jeb Dunnuck and 95 points Antonio Galloni.
Extremely Limited. Only 400 cases were made. This is a Spring Wine Club selection (April 2025), and therefore only a few cases remain for non-members.
2022 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Our longest tenured single vineyard wine, the single vineyard Fiddlestix was first made in 2008 (though we bought grapes back in 2006 here as well). This venerable vineyard was planted by pioneering winemaker Kathy Joseph in 1998. Since then, it has gone on to become a stalwart member of the Sta Rita Hills appellation. Across the road from Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada and just below Sea Smoke and Rita’s Crown, Fiddlestix forms an integral part of the “goldilocks zone”, just close enough to the ocean to be cooled by wind and fog, but far enough away to obtain sunshine and warmth from the abundant sunshine. Kathy sold the vineyard after the 2021 harvest, to a fantastic ownership group, and we have been able to retain (and in some cases expand) our holdings in various blocks. The future looks bright here.
The 2022 vintage was full of surprises including a string of intense heat waves; however, with daily attention to the vineyard and grape conditions, we were able to pick at almost perfect ripeness, before the most intense heatwave hit. The grapes were then fermented with 15% whole clusters and the wine aged on its lees for 19 months in French oak barrels (33% new). Bottling was unfined & unfiltered.
We are extremely happy with this wine, as we had to be deft and decisive during harvest, and we simply nailed the pick dates. The wine has truly remarkable natural acidity for the vintage. Whole clusters also provide complexity and width to the structure. This wine should drink well young but will also age on its flawless balance. Drink 2025-2034.
The 2022 wine has not yet been rated, but the 2021 was 95 points Antonio Galloni and Jeb Dunnuck.
Very Limited. Only 500 cases were made. This is a Winter Wine Club selection (January 2025).
2022 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyard
Stolpman is one of the great sites in all of Santa Barbara County. Located on rolling hills of clay loam overlaying limestone in the heart of Ballard Canyon, Stolpman is a Rhone variety wonderland. Over the years, we have purchased Syrah here from at least five distinctive blocks, from 20-year-old high density blocks to 30-year-old original plantings. The grapes have formed the backbone of our MJM. In 2022, however, we found that the extreme quality and singularity of the wines required us to make this a single vineyard wine.
In 2022, we picked the south and west facing high-density grapes before the heatwave, whereas the older vines required us to wait another 3 to 4 weeks to ripen, finally concluding October 7 at good sugar and ripeness levels. The wine was completely destemmed and aged in 228L barriques and 400L French oak barrels (18% new) before being selected for this cuvee. We blended the selected barrels after 9 months, then returned them to barrel for another 9 months before bottling. We love the intense, yet restrained power of this wine, born of exquisite farming from these venerable, stately vines, lovingly tended over a long, slow growing season.
The critics agree. Wine Advocate’s Matthew Luczy gave this wine 95 points saying “the texture is dramatically intense and rich, immediately engrossing the palate with a coiled, twisted structure that slingshots into a tenacious, chewy finish.” Jeb Dunnuck gave this wine 94 points, calling it a “wonderfully elegant wine… Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and earthy undertones all run through this powerful, deep Syrah.”
Very Limited; Only 260 cases made, most of which has already gone to the Wine Club.
2022 Grenache, John Sebastiano Vineyard
This dramatic, organically farmed, hillside site on the border of the Sta. Rita Hills is one of the coolest sites planted to Rhône varietals in all of California. Grenache grows on a steep, south-east facing hillside of almost pure sand on the eastern edge of the block and slightly heavier sandy clay loam toward the west and at the bottom of the block. The block is typically picked very late but at relatively low sugar levels for Grenache. These grapes produce a cool, energetic, mineral-laden wine with juicy, high toned, aromatic red fruits, fresh herbs, and good structure for aging. Syrah from JSV is darker toned with black and blue fruits, adding spice and structure to the blend.
In 2022, we picked the Grenache on October 25, as the sun-loving Grenache withstood all the heat waves mother nature could throw at her. The final blend was 82% Grenache, with 18% Syrah added to provide some bass notes. The wine was aged for 16 months on the lees in neutral French oak barrels (228L, 500 & 600L)
Extremely limited; only 140 cases made, most of which is going to the Wine Club.
Other 2022 Pinot Noirs in Stock
We have a few cases left of some other 2022 Pinot Noirs. Since being released they have become increasingly more complete and more complex with time in the bottle. The silky textures support even more kaleidoscopic aromatics as time marches on. Get some of these before they are gone.
2022 Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard
95 Points (AG)
“The 2022 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard is powerful, deep and substantial. Dark toned fruit, spice, lavender, licorice and leather all build in the glass. Ample and expansive, with tremendous depth, the 2022 is super-expressive, not to mention a total delight to taste. This finishes with a huge explosion of fruit and aromatics.”
2022 Pinot Noir, Bentrock Vineyard
96 Points (AG)
“The 2022 Pinot Noir Bentrock Vineyard is infused with crushed rocks, slate, mint, white pepper and orange peel. A wine of nervous energy and strong mineral tension, the Bentrock is wonderfully vivid in 2022. It also shows just how different sites in the Sta. Rita Hills are. This is benchmark Pinot Noir.”
2022 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
94 Points (AG)
“The 2022 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is elegant and lifted. Crushed flowers, red/purplish fruit, mint, rose petal and lavender all grace this exquisite, nuanced Pinot. The 10% stems are not at all evident. Readers will find a striking wine endowed with translucent finesse and tons of site character.”
2022 Pinot Noir, Duvarita Vineyard
95 Points (AG)
“The 2022 Pinot Noir Duvarita Vineyard is fabulous. Dark, layered and mysterious, the 2022 is super-impressive. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and sage all race out of the glass. Stem inclusion is minimal at 10%, but the wine is defined by its strong savory character. A Pinot of substance and depth, the Duvarita is superb.”
2022 Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills. 92 Points (JD), 91 Points (AG)
With nearly a year in bottle, this wine is drinking beautifully right now.
