Domaine Racines Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2021

Racines is a collaboration between two classic houses from France, led by vignerons Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne. The team came together to join their individual experiences in hand-crafting wines of purity and transparency to create a range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate of the Sta. Rita Hills in California.

For the Pinot Noir, they use whole-cluster fermentation, adding elegance, lift and spiciness, combined with pigéage throughout fermentation, offering a burlier, more extracted flavor profile, with more weight, volume and exceptional aging potential.

Elegant and lifted with amazing energy, purity of fruit, and well-integrated structure. Varietally correct with gorgeous combo of red fruit and forest floor with subtle oak spice nuances in the background. Ripe red cherry, blood orange, spice, menthol and a good deal of pizazz from the 50% whole cluster. Pliant, creamy, so expressive.