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 Vintage2014 Label 1 of 174 
TypeRed
ProducerSea Smoke (web)
VarietyPinot Noir
DesignationSouthing
Vineyardn/a
CountryUSA
RegionCalifornia
SubRegionCentral Coast
AppellationSta. Rita Hills
UPC Code(s)859012000023, 8590120000230, 859012001525, 877591002788

Drinking Windows and Values
Drinking window: Drink between 2017 and 2023 (based on 31 user opinions)
Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing on the Wine Market Journal.

Community Tasting History

Community Tasting Notes (average 91.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 335 notes) - hiding notes with no text

 Tasted by PMTinfv on 3/23/2024 & rated 94 points: Decanted and let breath for three hours. Classic Southing with an incredibly long finish. Still a lot of structure..hour 4-5 is when it finished integrating. Drink now but has at least another 3-5 years of peak drinking. (367 views)
 Tasted by PB wino on 3/10/2024 & rated 95 points: Drank with lobster taco and Salmon. Still bright with cherry notes, garique and licorice. A few good years a head. (740 views)
 Tasted by nicole_valencic@yahoo.com on 2/12/2024 & rated 95 points: Tasting really well right now – probably has quite a few more years, but at its peak (1014 views)
 Tasted by N.Bonaparte on 12/4/2023 & rated 92 points: 20 min in the glass is all that’s needed. Fully integrated tannins and unmistakably new world with that prominent cherry you don’t taste in burgundy. A well balanced wine that’s certainly in its prime and likely beginning a slow decline. Best consumed within the next year. This bottle was purchased on release and stored properly since. (1877 views)
 Tasted by yeti575rider on 11/23/2023 & rated 91 points: Nice but definitely preferred the Tawse Gevrey I had before this. Not a shock given my current preferences but this was reasonably restrained and not too big so was still very good. Fruit holding up well so this can still go for a bit although don’t really seeing it improving. (1724 views)
 Tasted by SCosgrove on 10/19/2023 & rated 93 points: Dark cherries drinking beautifully (2041 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 9/24/2023 & rated 95 points: Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, asian spice, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a long tasty finish. Classic Sea Smoke! (1944 views)
 Tasted by Gunman on 8/20/2023 & rated 90 points: This is bigger than I expected. Dark fruit. Almost black cherry, but more luxardo cherries with oolong tea. Some licorice on the mid-palate. Long finish. Not quite mushrooms — more like mushroom consommé. A hint of mushroom, but not quite fully realized. Still prominent tannins. More like a Belle Glos Las Alturas than I was expecting. I have a magnum of this. I’m guessing I’ll have to wait 3-5 years or more on it. (1973 views)
 Tasted by agsdlswine on 7/31/2023 & rated 93 points: Drinking perfectly now pairing well w/grilled salmon. (1485 views)
 Tasted by Julien D on 2/25/2023 & rated 93 points: Nose is warm and inviting, dominated by dark cherry, mulberry and vanilla. After some time, notes of licorice and peony take over, adding to a very sensual bouquet. The mouth feels like a velvety duvet warming up your senses. Blackberry and baking spice flavors add more to the soothing sensation this wine provides. Medium length finish. This bottle tasted much younger than expected. (3455 views)
 Tasted by sonodoc on 1/28/2023 & rated 92 points: My last bottle. The tannins are now not very noticeable, and this is drinking nicely. Very enjoyable for someone who is not a big fan of most Pinots. (3558 views)
 Tasted by ClaytonDave on 12/18/2022 & rated 93 points: Ready now, with brief decant. Smooth and strong notes of black cherry and raspberry. (4244 views)
 Tasted by Blackwa on 11/25/2022 & rated 92 points: Very smooth, tannins have really mellowed. Fruit has faded a bit but still very good. Macerated black cherry, cola, and a touch of mint. I would drink soon. (4365 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 11/13/2022 & rated 93 points: Delicious ripe raspberry, dark cherry, and floral notes on the nose and palate with a hint of cedar and refreshing tannins and acidity on the long finish. (4497 views)
 Tasted by Sour Grapes on 10/28/2022 & rated 94 points: In a nice place at the moment. The acid has softened up and the tannins are very low to non existent. Eight years seems to be a good spot for the 2014. (3071 views)
 Tasted by SheddVA on 10/23/2022 & rated 92 points: Took to lunch at Aida’s. (2754 views)
 Tasted by wconnolly on 8/9/2022 & rated 90 points: Medium cherry color in the glass. Raspberry, sour cherry and a smokiness on the palate. Medium bodied with a nice balance of acidity. Typical Sta. Rita Hills product. (4690 views)
 Tasted by wconnolly on 7/9/2022 & rated 90 points: Medium purple in color with no evidence of bricking. Perfume on the nose. Cherry, earth , smoke and a bit of clove on the palate. Delicate and a bit of old word influence. Diminished acidity (5377 views)
 Tasted by Andrew H on 7/1/2022 & rated 89 points: Clear medium red. A bit hot, with slightly smoky notes. Clear medium-ripe cherry. Not a lot of intrigue but enjoyable. (5415 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 4/30/2022 & rated 94 points: Similar tasting notes to previous bottle. Drinking beautifully! (7091 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 4/16/2022 & rated 95 points: Best bottle yet, classic Sea Smoke! Lovely aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, asian spice, and cedar with delicious tannins and acidity on a long tasty finish. (7340 views)
 Tasted by Tacoma714 on 4/16/2022 & rated 94 points: Drinking very well right now. Watergrill, Costa Mesa California. Allowed to get some air for 20 mins. Classic chery and cola. Drank with tuna tar tar and oysrers. Fantastic combination. If you have any in your cellar right now is a good time to be drinking them. (4830 views)
 Tasted by PTNV on 4/15/2022 & rated 94 points: Lovely nose. Hints of allspice and clove. Should continue to age well
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. It tastes like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity. (3659 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 4/4/2022 & rated 93 points: Similar tasting notes to previous bottle but more open and vibrant. Drinking beautifully! (3644 views)
 Tasted by pjhr on 3/13/2022 & rated 92 points: Tasty flavors and aromas of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, floral, and hint of cedar with refreshing tannins and acidity on a moderate long finish. (1887 views)
 Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine...

Professional 'Channels'
By Jonathan Cristaldi
Decanter, Jonathan Cristalid Spring Tastings 2023 (4/12/2023)
(Sea Smoke, Southing, Pinot Noir / Pinot Nero, Santa Barbara County, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Rita Hills, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter. (manage subscription channels)

CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles)

Sea Smoke

Producer website.
At Sea Smoke we believe that the vineyard is the wine. For this reason, we produce Pinot Noir grown exclusively on our estate vineyard in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County, California. We focus on the meticulous management of each vine to achieve ideal vine balance and very low yields, while incorporating sustainable, environmentally sound farming practices. Each of our ten clones of Pinot Noir is hand harvested, and individual vineyard block/clone combinations are kept in separate lots throughout the winemaking process, enabling us to develop an intimate knowledge of the way Sea Smoke vineyard expresses itself. These individual lots form the basis of a complex flavor palette from which final blending decisions are made. This results in wines of exceptional complexity and grace - each one, we believe, a reflection of the unique terroir of our estate vineyard. We hope you agree, and we welcome your comments.

Pinot Noir

Varietal character (Appellation America) | Varietal article (Wikipedia)
Pinot Noir is the Noble red grape of Burgundy, capable of ripening in a cooler climate, which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot will not reliably do. It is unpredictable and difficult both to grow and to vinify, but results in some of the finest reds in the world. It is believed to have been selected from wild vines two thousand years ago. It is also used in the production of champagne. In fact, more Pinot Noir goes into Champagne than is used in all of the Cote d'Or! It is also grown in Alsace, Jura, Germany, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy, and so forth, with varying degrees of success.


Pinot Noir is one of the world's most prestigious grapes. It is very difficult to grow and thrives well in France, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. Pinot Noir thrives less in hot areas, is picky on soil, and deserves some oak storage.

Pinot Noir, or Blauburgunder / Spätburgunder in German, is a blue grapevine - and, as the German name suggests, the grape comes originally from Burgundy in France.

The grape, which thrives in calcareous soils, is used primarily for the production of red wine, and it is widely regarded as producing some of the best wines in the world. The wine style is often medium-bodied with high fruit acidity and soft tannins. It can be quite peculiar in fragrance and taste, and not least in structure - which may be why it is referred to as "The Grapes Ballerina".
Pinot Noir is also an important ingredient in sparkling wines, not least in champagne since it is fruity, has good acidity and contains relatively little tannins.
The grape is considered quite demanding to grow. The class itself consists of tightly packed grapes, which makes it more sensitive to rot and other diseases.

Pinot Noir changes quite easily and is genetically unstable. It buds and matures early which results in it often being well ripened. Climate is important for this type of grape. It likes best in cool climates - in warm climates the wines can be relaxed and slightly pickled.
In cooler climates, the wine can get a hint of cabbage and wet leaves, while in slightly warmer regions we often find notes of red berries (cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants), roses and slightly green notes when the wine is young. With age, more complex aromas of forest floor, fungi and meat emerge.

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary, it often produces light wines with less character. However, it has produced very good results in California, Oregon and New Zealand.

With its soft tannins and delicate aroma, it is excellent for white fish, chicken and light meat. For the stored wines you can serve small game. Classic duck breast is a matter of course, a Boeuf Burgundy and Pinot Noir are pure happiness.

Pinot Noir loses quality by over-harvesting.
Pinot Noir is prone to diseases, especially rot and mildew. Viruses cause major problems especially in Burgundy.
Pinot Noir are large round grapes with thin skins. Relatively high in alcohol content. Medium rich tannins and good with acid.
As a young person, Pinot Noir has a distinctly fruity character such as raspberries, cherries and strawberries.
A mature Pinot Noir, the taste is different. Cherry goes into plum and prune flavors. It smells of rotten leaves, coffee, moist forest floor and animal wine. This must be experienced.
In warm climates you find boiled plum, some rustic, little acid.
If the grapes are over-grown, the wine will be thin, with little color and flavor.

USA

American wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.

California

2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson

Central Coast

http://www.ccwinegrowers.org/links.html

http://www.discovercaliforniawines.com/regional-wine-organizations/

http://beveragetradenetwork.com/en/btn-academy/list-of-winegrowers-association-in-central-coast-california-274.htm

Central Coast AVA Wikipedia

 
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