2023 Violet Hill Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

100% Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills (even though it is just labeled as Santa Barbara County). Primary fermentation with some stem inclusion in small vats is followed by malolactic conversion and twelve months of aging in French oak, 25% of which is new barrels. 14.5% alcohol. 

This is a great value on a fuller bodied, modern style Pinot with some noticeable oak. Cherry, raspberry, vanilla, chocolate all make an appearance with some peppery spiciness. It’s all wrapped up in a silky smooth, medium-full body with soft tannins and smooth, balanced acidity. 

Violet Hill is yet another side project of Rob Fischer and Mordechai Kotler of Banshee, Averaen, Valravn and Pavette fame.  Their brand began as a singular Pinot Noir made to provide value in a category living almost perpetually at $60 retail. At that time in the market, if it wasn’t $60, it was absolute crap. Baron Ziegler, Steve Graf and Emily Peterson refused to believe it wasn’t possible to have something worth drinking, at a price they could personally afford to pay. They came from European wine backgrounds over many years, most recently Baron and Emily at Eric Soloman Selections (primarily Spanish wine), and Steve at Martine’s Wines (Burgundy), and those beginnings helped shape the sense of place and vibrancy people came to expect from Banshee–at an amazing price. Fast forward some years, and they ended up selling Banshee, but keeping the contracts with the growers they had developed relationships with over the years, and subsequently creating these small, region-specific labels. They began working with winemaker Rob Fischer, whose own relationships and experience in the area only elevated their game.