Today’s Couloir Wines 2014 John Sebastiano Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir was described by one of our tasting panel members as sublime. All around the table, heads were nodding in agreement.

One sip.. no, one sniff of this wine tells you that it is something quite special.

On the nose, this wine is fresh like a springtime forest after a gentle afternoon rain. This wine shows off aromas of Bing cherry, blackberry, raspberry and alpine strawberry, followed by red currant, cedar, sweet mild spice and a hint of dried cranberry.

Intriguing, beguiling flavors cascade onto the palate, starting with fresh berries, then going somewhat Burgundian, with woodsy notes, softly toasty oak, forest floor, wild mushroom and pencil shavings.

Grown on the fabled John Sebastiano Vineyard (where Paul Lato, Siduri, Ojai, Foxen and others source from) this wine shows off the unique character of this remarkable vineyard.

Wines made from John Sebastiano’s grapes fetch prices up to $100 a bottle!

Jon recently told Pinot File, “The 2014 growing season, while early, produced a well ripened crop that was in balance. I think the 2014 wines offer the depth and dark fruit of the 2012 vintage in conjunction with the verve and freshness of the 2013 wines. It is a stellar combination and can be seen across appellations. The wines have both wonderful immediacy and the potential for longevity.”

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Here’s what the Wine Press has to say:

94 points - Pinot File - “Dark reddish purple color in the glass. Inviting aromas of blackberry jam, soy, potpourri and earthy flora. The wine explodes with glorious fruit on entry, saturating the mid palate with delicious flavors of black raspberry, plum and spice, finishing with both length and intensity. Impeccably balanced with vibrant acidity and integrated tannins, this beauty offers a sublime experience for hedonists.”

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93 points - Wine Enthusiast Full review to be published March 2017