# Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir (2019)

- **Producer:** Racines
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €55
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, strawberry, plum, rose, violet, black pepper, cloves, cedar, smoke, forest floor, wet leaves, leather, mushroom

## About this wine

Racines is an exciting collaboration between Burgundy's Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve, and Champagne's Rodolphe Péters. This project represents their first venture outside of France, specifically choosing the cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills in California's Central Coast. The Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir is crafted to showcase the unique maritime-influenced terroir of the region, combining Burgundian precision and elegance with the vibrant, pure fruit characteristics of California. The vineyards are heavily influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean, which brings cool fogs and steady winds, allowing for slow ripening and excellent acid retention.

## Interesting facts

- A collaboration between Étienne de Montille of Burgundy and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne, marking their first joint venture outside France.
- The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is unique for its east-west mountain valleys, which funnel cool Pacific breezes directly into the vineyards.
- The winemaking team utilizes whole-cluster fermentation and minimal new oak to emphasize freshness, structure, and terroir over wood flavors.

## Food pairing

This elegant, high-acid Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with dishes that match its medium body and earthy, red-fruit profile. The bright acidity cuts through the richness of duck, salmon, and lamb, while the wine's subtle forest floor and mushroom notes harmonize perfectly with earthier dishes like wild mushroom risotto. Avoid overly spicy or heavy, sweet dishes that would overwhelm the wine's delicate structure.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for the Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Pinot Noir focuses on minimal intervention to preserve the purity of the fruit and terroir. Grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted. Fermentation occurs using native yeasts in a combination of concrete tanks and wooden vats, often incorporating a portion of whole clusters to add structural complexity and aromatic lift. The wine is aged for approximately 11 to 18 months in French oak barrels, with a very low percentage of new oak, to ensure the wood does not overpower the delicate Pinot Noir fruit. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered.