2021 Alta Maria Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley Santa Barbara County

Winemaker Notes:  Unmistakably varietally, correct and on point. Beautifully balanced by freshness, bright, acidity, savory floral, notes of bougainvillea and rose petals, cinnamon stick, five spice. Secondary fruit, offers, rhubarb, sour cherry, along with anise seed and sassafras. Wet cobblestone and dolomitic limestone show the providence of location in minerality. Light and balanced, but showing on the entry and mid pallet with a tremendous lingering finish that goes on and on.

Alta Maria Vineyards was established in 2005 by James Ontiveros who also owns Ranchos de Ontiveros, featuring estate-sourced, single-site, single-vineyard wine. His Native9 Pinot Noir represents the ninth generation of the Ontiveros family in California, going back to a 1781 land grant within the pueblo of Los Angeles. The family’s roots trace back to La Rioja in Old Spain in the 1500s. Eventually, James’ fifth great-grandfather, Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, and his wife, Doña Martina, moved their extensive farming operation north to Santa Barbara County in search of water and more land. They settled in what would become the town of Santa Maria. While James’ estate wines are crafted with an old-world approach, Alta Maria wines celebrate the fruit of the appellation. They are light, fresh, and savory. The name Alta means high or elevated and exudes a refined aura that, like fine wine, will age well. The name Maria is an homage to the ancestors of James Ontiveros who left a legacy of love for the lush Santa Maria River valley.