2018 Paul Lato Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

“A great California success story, Polish immigrant Paul Lato started as a cellar hand in a Santa Maria co-op/custom crush and has worked his way up to being one of the leading producers of artisanal, world class wines in California today. Lato fashions a bevy of wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. These aren’t lightweight wines, yet they never lose their sense of balance and elegance. I always describe the wines as having a slightly Old World style, but with one foot planted firmly in California. Incredible wines across the board.” Jeb Dunnuck

Paul Lato: All the greatest wines possess authenticity, harmony, and elegance. These are the qualities I constantly try to capture in my wines. The ultimate goal is to create wines that are seamless and textural with enough structure and balance to complement fine cuisine. In order to make wines of the highest caliber, I select unique vineyards that are cared for by talented vineyard managers committed to excellence. I strive to locate and source from not only the best vineyards but the best blocks within each of these vineyards. I do believe that true artisanal winemaking is based on intuition, sensitivity and passion. Keeping the lots small allows for gentle handling throughout the winemaking process.

WA92 Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a nose of cranberry jelly, blackberries, tea leaves, tree bark and forest floor with loads of spicy accents. Medium-bodied, it has great brightness and citrusy accents over earth-laced fruits, with a soft, finely grained frame and lifted finish. 
Estate Notes: This 2018 Pinot is a blend of single-vineyards from Sta. Rita Hills, making it more affordable. We love everything about it, from its purple/garnet hue to its aromas of cherry, tea and vanilla. The palate is medium-bodied, full of red cherries and more spice plus an intriguing candy-like finish that is something like a raspberry Jolly Rancher. We like it even more on the second day as it fills out with more body and flavors of violets and cocoa. We feel that this Pinot delivers loads of enjoyment for the price.