# Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir (2019)

- **Producer:** Chanin Wine Company
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €72
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, raspberry, framboise, mulberry, red plum, blossom, rose, mint, vanilla, cloves, cedar, dried herbs, bay leaf, chaparral herbs, savory herbs, forest floor, earth, mineral

## About this wine

The Chanin Wine Company 2019 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir hails from the renowned Sta. Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County, California. This wine is a testament to the legacy of the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, one of the region's foundational sites planted in 1971. Winemaker Gavin Chanin, known for his meticulous approach and recognition in the wine industry, sources fruit from the vineyard's historic old vines. The vineyard's location, just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and its distinctive east-west orientation, contributes to a cool climate that fosters the development of elegant Pinot Noir. This bottling represents a harmonious blend of a storied vineyard and a modern, terroir-driven winemaking philosophy.

## Interesting facts

- Sanford & Benedict is the first vineyard planted in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
- The vineyard's original plantings date back to 1972, making them some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara.
- Winemaker Gavin Chanin was named one of Forbes' '30 under 30' in Food and Wine.
- The vineyard's unique east-west orientation maximizes cooling maritime influence.

## Food pairing

The wine's bright acidity and silky tannins complement rich proteins and fatty dishes, cutting through richness while enhancing savory notes. Its complex fruit and earthy undertones pair well with earthy ingredients like mushrooms and root vegetables, and herbal elements in the food can echo the wine's own subtle herbaceousness.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for the Chanin Wine Company 2019 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir emphasizes a hands-off approach inspired by Burgundy. Grapes are fermented using natural yeasts, with some whole-cluster inclusion to enhance complexity. The wine is intentionally not filtered or fined to preserve its natural character. Aging occurs with judicious use of oak, primarily to support rather than dominate the wine's inherent vineyard-driven profile. Chanin Wine Company prioritizes sourcing from organically or sustainably farmed vineyards, focusing on low yields and balanced viticulture to achieve wines of purity and finesse.