2023 Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills) (Wine Club Wine: October 2025)
Fabulous, wild, dramatic, extreme, otherworldly. These are some of the adjectives that come to mind when we think of Radian. The landscape is stark, steep, scraggly and covered in poison oak and chapparal. The steep slopes are battered daily by cold, salty, high winds, and the soils are parched dry and silty, with diatomaceous earth outcroppings and thin layers of sandy and clay topsoils that cling to the ground against the onslaught of the mighty Pacific.
Yields are frightfully low here, as tiny clusters dangle precariously within the small canopies. The small clusters though are immensely flavorful and full of complex savory, spice, and marine notes. We love the wines from here, a product of great vision and dedication by Matt Dees, Ruben Solorzano and the vineyard team there.
In 2023, Radian enjoyed an extraordinarily long season, with grapes harvested from October 3 to 12. Yields were low as usual and intensity of the grapes at high levels. The 2023 Radian was fermented on native yeasts, and the wine then aged on its lees for 17 months in French oak cooperage (40% new) before bottling without fining or filtration.
The 2023 Radian Pinot Noir is dark, complex and dynamic, with haunting fruit, savory and spice notes dancing together a canopy of structure, and then intense, palate-clinging diatomaceous-influenced minerals and acids take over and deliver a long finish.
Very Limited. Only 525 cases produced.
Critics have loved this wine as in past years. Jonathan Cristaldi of Cristaldi & Co. gave in a whopping 98 Points, while Billy Norris of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous Media gave the wine 96+ Points and Jeb Dunnuck gave it 95+ Points. These are among the highest scores given in the respective reports.
2023 Pinot Noir, Bentrock Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills)
Bentrock is the sister vineyard to Radian at the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Slightly lower in elevation and semi-protected from the Pacific Ocean gales that strike Radian head on, Bentrock ripens a tad earlier than Radian, with wines more in the middle register compared to the animale that is Radian. Nonetheless, the wines are distinctive for their saltiness, and red fruited verve. We select grapes from several distinct blocks (two north facing, one south facing, one east facing) at elevations ranging from 375-525 feet above sea level.
As with Radian, 2023 was a year of hangtime, with grapes harvested at its four blocks from late September to early October at solid ripeness and excellent fruit condition. We fermented these grapes with 12% whole clusters for some added tannic structure, savory aromatics and punch. The wine was aged on its lees for 16 months in French oak barrels (20% new). The wine shows fresh, lifted, energetic red fruits, some baking spices and savory herb notes, good depth, and a wonderful silky texture in a medium bodied frame.
Extremely Limited. Only 200 cases produced.
Bentrock was scored 97 Points from both Antonio Galloni’s Vinous (Billy Norris, August 2025), and Jonathan Cristaldi, with 94 Points from Jeb Dunnuck.
2023 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills)
Historic Sanford & Benedict is the original Pinot Noir vineyard (est. 1971) in the Santa Ynez Valley (Sta. Rita Hills was not established until 2001). We purchase fruit here from two distinct blocks of older vines (1999) and oldest vines (1972), buying by the acre so we may employ specialized pruning and organic farming practices. These stately vines stand tall on their enormous trunks, while still producing a solid crop of beautifully concentrated grapes. The resulting wines display sappy red and black cherry fruits with old-vine style and grace.
The long cool 2023 vintage was just about perfect, with grapes being picked at the very end of September (Block T-6) and early to mid-October (T-14). The long season gave great phenolic development, while the low to moderate heat allowed retention of acidity. Final alcohol was 13.9%. The wine is almost a throwback to the earliest days of SRH, before the push for ripeness accelerated in the early 2000s. Matured 17 months in French oak barrels, 30% new, the wine is red fruited and spirited and will age well on its impeccable balance.
Extremely Limited. Only 300 cases produced.
Critical acclaim has been terrific, with the wine receiving 96 Points from Jeb Dunnuck and Jonathan Cristaldi. Dunnuck stated: “Ruby-hued and translucent, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard offers dried strawberries, sassafras, rose, and exotic white flower notes, and it’s based on 100% Pinot Noir from original heritage clone vines and was completely destemmed. Medium-bodied, it has a pure, graceful mouthfeel, fabulous tannins, and a great finish. This brilliant effort is all about complexity and finesse. Drink bottles over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035.”
2023 Pinot Noir, Collaboration, Sta. Rita Hills
The idea for Collaboration started 5 years ago, when our long time Tasting Room and Sales staff asked if they could get a closer look into winemaking and blending. We thought it was a good idea, and after a year of elevage, we selected a dozen barrels for them to select a “tasting room only” wine they could claim ownership over. The idea stuck, and this is now the 5th wine they have selected.
In 2023, the final blend was 2 barrels each of Radian and Fiddlestix, one each of Bentrock and Sanford & Benedict. The wine was aged on its lees for 16 months in all neutral French oak barrels to emphasize fruit flavors and a remarkably silky texture. Harmonious and lithe, we just love this wine.
The Staff enjoys selling it at the Tasting Room ONLY. Ask to try it when you are in town, and we are sure you will want to take some home. Wine Club members can call or email us if you want to have some shipped out to you.
Extremely Limited. Only 150 cases produced.
