For those Operatives that want just today’s fantastic Sanford Winery 2014 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, without the bundled Magnum bottle, this sale is for you. This 94 point treat hails from one of California’s most renowned Pinot Noir producers - and is available to you at a very special price.

For those not in the know about Sanford, here are two things that you should know: One, they are regarded as one of the premier Pinot Noir producers in California and, two, they were featured in the 2004 academy award-winning cult film, Sideways, which starred Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church. Sideways was singlehandedly responsible for the huge uptick in the popularity of exceptional California Pinot Noir.

An absolutely beautiful crimson hue permeates consistently through this medium density Pinot Noir. On the leading edge it hits you with some perfumed cinnamon and allspice, then it comes through with enticing red cherry, cassis, and potpourri. Wow! The palate is luscious with bright red fruit leading the charge. The ripe red cherry and red plum really pops. Then comes a beautiful limestone minerality followed by notes of black tea and tobacco. Perfect tartness and sweetness balance out like yin and yang. It’s held together with flawless tannin and a long finish. Go for broke and try a heavier slice of fish, such as swordfish.

Here’s a fun scene from the movie, shot at one of Sanford Winery’s locations:

Today’s is is an impeccable expression of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. This wine is at once elegant, flavorful and deeply aromatic. Generous flavors and aromas abound, and the mouthfeel is soft and silky, with easy tannin. This 2014 is drinking beautifully. We won’t always finish our review bottles, but our tasting panel spent hours with these wines, swirling, sniffing and just plain admiring this great wine. Our review bottles were bone dry at the end of our tasting.

Enjoy!!

Here’s what the wine press has to say.

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck - “The 2014 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is more fresh and lively, with a sappy note in its tart cranberry, pomegranate, rose petal and forest floor aromas and flavors. This beauty shines on the palate where it’s medium-bodied, fresh, taunt and elegant, yet with considerable mid-palate depth and a great finish. It’s impressive!”

92 Points - Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator - “A creamy and spicy style, with mocha notes to the rich and pure flavors of dried raspberry and red currant. The silky finish lingers with smoke and sandalwood details. Drink now through 2022.”

92 Points - Matt Kettman, Wine Enthusiast - “Earthy aromas of juniper and forest floor give depth to the rusty cherry, tart cranberry, dried hibiscus and pepperdust scents on the nose of this bottling from the historic vineyard. Soft in structure at first, it then delivers a firmer tannic edge in the midpalate, all the while delivering vivacious red fruit and pineforest flavors. It will age very well.”

91 Points - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate - “The excellent 2014 Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard offers up aromas of earthy red and black fruits, spice and rose hip. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, complete and layered, with nice freshness and energy.”

95 Points - Karen MacNeil, WineSpeed.com