Welcome to what is the best Pinot Noir from this producer we have ever tasted! The Hilt is based in the cool, wind-swept Sta. Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County and focuses on top notch Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. It's also worth mentioning that the property is owned by Stan Kroenke, who also owns Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley. While these two properties share the same owner and the same dedication to world-class wines, they are completely separate entities, with their own winemakers, vineyard managers and winemaking facilities.
Their Radian vineyard is rugged and extreme. The upper portions of the vineyard are exposed to near-constant high winds, resulting in structured tannins. But outcrops of diatomaceous earth and rocky soils offer heat retention, which allows for ripe fruit to bring balance to the finished wines. Critic Jeb Dunnuck called this wine "incredible" and rated it 97 points!
ANTONIO GALLONI 97 POINTS - "It’s always a pleasure to taste through the range at The Hilt, especially now that the wines have more of an estate focus than they did in the early years. The Hilt is one of a few estates where I prefer the Pinots over the Chardonnays in 2021. I find the Pinots to be rich, deep and super-expressive of site. The vineyard-designates were done with mostly destemmed fruit, although Radian has some stems. New oak is low to minimal."
"A bright, nervy wine, the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian captures all the natural intensity of this site on the far edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Bright acids and veins of minerality infuse the 2021 with tremendous character. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, crushed rocks, graphite and dried herbs are some of the many notes that race across the palate. This just sizzles with energy. It's a great example from the western edge of the appellation."
JEB DUNNUCK 97 POINTS - "I loved the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard, which has a vivid, perfumed, exotic bouquet of black raspberries, spring flowers, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality. I love its purity, and it's medium-bodied, with an incredible sense of refinement and class and a great finish. Coming from a rocky hillside vineyard on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, this incredible Pinot Noir will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise in cold cellars over the following decade or more."
Their Radian vineyard is rugged and extreme. The upper portions of the vineyard are exposed to near-constant high winds, resulting in structured tannins. But outcrops of diatomaceous earth and rocky soils offer heat retention, which allows for ripe fruit to bring balance to the finished wines. Critic Jeb Dunnuck called this wine "incredible" and rated it 97 points!
ANTONIO GALLONI 97 POINTS - "It’s always a pleasure to taste through the range at The Hilt, especially now that the wines have more of an estate focus than they did in the early years. The Hilt is one of a few estates where I prefer the Pinots over the Chardonnays in 2021. I find the Pinots to be rich, deep and super-expressive of site. The vineyard-designates were done with mostly destemmed fruit, although Radian has some stems. New oak is low to minimal."
"A bright, nervy wine, the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian captures all the natural intensity of this site on the far edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Bright acids and veins of minerality infuse the 2021 with tremendous character. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, crushed rocks, graphite and dried herbs are some of the many notes that race across the palate. This just sizzles with energy. It's a great example from the western edge of the appellation."
JEB DUNNUCK 97 POINTS - "I loved the 2021 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard, which has a vivid, perfumed, exotic bouquet of black raspberries, spring flowers, violets, graphite, and chalky minerality. I love its purity, and it's medium-bodied, with an incredible sense of refinement and class and a great finish. Coming from a rocky hillside vineyard on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, this incredible Pinot Noir will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise in cold cellars over the following decade or more."
Overall Rating
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