A standout winery from the wine ghetto in (not so) beautiful Lompoc.  While this may be the less majestic looking spot in Santa Barbara County, it’s one of the greatest spots on earth for Pinot Noir.  Vineyards in Santa Rita Hills keep putting out palate poems like this bottle, and doing so at reasonable prices.

Taut red fruit with layers of wild rose and honeysuckle. It is a lithe expression of Pinot Noir that offers great finesse and clarity.

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Rocks represent all kinds of chemistry as reflected in the crystals or minerals of which they are made, and the textures which describe the physical relationships among minerals. The dominant chemical component of rocks found at the surface is SiO2(= silica), more commonly known as the mineral quartz. Quartz is composed of a covalently-bonded molecule which is among the most durable of natural materials: it does not break down easily and is inert chemically. Most sandy soils contain quartz. Other minerals with silica compounds involved in different structures have weaker bonds and most commonly are a mixture of magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and other minor elements which can be released to the environment by mechanical or chemical weathering, and thus can provide the nutrients essential to the growth of wine grape vines. This “big four” group of nutrients (Mg, Ca, K, Na) in various combinations is an important factor in determining the contribution of soil chemistry to the production of flavourful wine grapes. Below we will explore how these nutrients affect vine plants and what combination and ratio of nutrients works best for premium winegrowing in Sonoma County.

The Final Word: Zotovich Estate 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

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