The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Santa Rita Hills

Varietal   Pinot Noir

Retail Price   $96

ABV   14.2%

Score   4 Stars/91 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium ruby color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of red cherry, boysenberry, and five spice with supporting notes of slate, red currant, and oak.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of red plum, baking spices, semisweet cranberry, and toasted oak. The finish is long and lingering with silky tannins.

Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a voluptuous texture.

Cool Factor

We absolutely love the fruit, the unique philosophy, and the winemaker's choices making this wine totally cool.

Value Grade

This Pinot is not designed for mass consumption. It's pricey for sure but fewer than 100 cases are made making it rare.

Analysis

Exprimere is a new wine project with a very interesting premise. At the heart of Exprimere is some exceptional fruit grown at the Peake Ranch in the Santa Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County — a proven Pinot Noir zone. This is our second vintage of Exprimere Pinot Noirs. Like last year, the two Pinot Noirs are created as siblings exploring the nature and nurture question. The difference lies solely in the winemaking choices. The wines are made by James MacPhail, an award-winning winemaker familiar to every BevX reader via Tongue Dancer Wines. Persey, featured here, is treated in a bit of a rough-and-tumble manner, being fermented hot (sometimes in the sun) and punched down more frequently. Mia fermented at cool temperatures and treated gently. Last year Persey had a few rough edges due to its upbringing, but this 2022 version is spot on with charming spice notes and toasted oak accents, albeit a bit muscular.

How to Enjoy

This brawny Pinot Noir is best served with meat. A grilled rib-eye is an excellent choice while slow-cooked, baby back ribs will shine with this wine's ample natural acidity.