Santa Barbara County

Medium

Natural Cork

I sampled the 2001 Southing during a rare retrospective tasting of Sea Smoke's Pinot Noirs and was absolutely blown away by the wine fully five hours after it had been opened. Something quite remarkable is going on here, for this first vintage of wine produced off young vines, while the winemaking kinks and style direction were literally in their infancy. At about 1:30 pm, poured from a 75-cl bottle, the 2001 offered a lovely potpourri of dusty cherries, spearmint, some dark chocolate and sandalwood. Light to medium-bodied, boasting dark cherry, mint, pine forest, earth, and a stark mineral component. The acidity was present, if not vibrant, but the fruit was tired, and the tannins a bit burly, if not harsh. That bottle sat undisturbed for five hours when, over dinner, I sampled it again. I fully expected it to have resolved into a shell of itself. Still, I was floored to discover an almost fuller wine, with more power and energy, tension, and balance, with all the bright minty notes gone, replaced by sumptuous earth, as if an entire forest had been rained upon overnight, and magically condensed into my glass. It was delicious. I asked Victor Gallegos, the GM, and Don Schroeder, the winemaker, if they'd revisited the 2001. When they did, their happiness was effusive. They should be happy. What a remarkable feat for a Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. For a wine to slumber for 22 years and to deliver a fireworks show like that, is this not the very thing we chase in the pursuit of a perfect glass of wine? I would have selfishly drunk the entire bottle myself. That, to me, is a perfect wine.

Pinot Noir / Pinot Nero

Sea Smoke, Southing, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA, 2001

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I sampled the 2001 Southing during a rare retrospective tasting of Sea Smoke's Pinot Noirs and was absolutely blown away by the 

Sea Smoke, Southing, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills.California, USA 2001

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