Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2023 750ml

Sea Smoke farms 172 acres on south-facing slopes in the Sta. Rita Hills, where evening marine fog, the sea smoke of the name, rises up the Santa Ynez River canyon. The land was bought in 1999 and the first vintage was 2001. Southing is the estate's core Pinot Noir.

The vineyard is planted to ten French clones and has been farmed organically since 2005. The 2023 was hand-harvested and destemmed, given a five-day cold soak in open-top fermenters, then aged 16 months in French oak, 42% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The winery gives 14.7% alcohol.

The winery describes fresh currant, a little strawberry and rose, dried fruit, fennel, clove and nutmeg, with fine tannins, minerality and cool-climate acidity. James Suckling says it has a long life ahead.

Against Cakebread Two Creeks 2023, Southing is a single-estate Sta. Rita Hills wine with more new oak; for a Pinot to lay down, choose Southing.

Decant it for half an hour, and serve with duck breast, mushroom risotto or roast pork.

Browse more Pinot Noir and our fine and rare wine. Pick it up at our Brooklyn store or get same-day delivery in Brooklyn, Manhattan & Queens.