98 Point Chanin Pinot Noir

SURREAL SANFORD AND BENEDICT PINOT NOIR

“We have yet another stellar new release from Gavin Chanin, who started his winery back in 2007 from his UCLA dorm room when he was 21. He has taken Santa Barbara by storm, making some of the most sought after and critically acclaimed wines in California. On Friday, we promoted the phenomenal 97 point 2018 Chanin Chardonnay Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, and there are a few cases left of this stunning Chardonnay.

But now it's time to highlight the incredible 98 point 2018 Chanin Pinot Noir Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, another stellar wine from this legendary vineyard. Gavin only made seven barrels of this Pinot, so we have limited quantities! Jeb Dunnuck gushes that it's ‘a real “wow” Pinot Noir and easily the finest wine I've tasted from this estate’. And Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls it an ‘absolutely stunning wine’ and notes that the ‘depth, power and concentration here are just unreal’. This is your chance of a lifetime to get this highly allocated and acclaimed wine.” – Glen Knight, The Wine House

“Not enough can be said about the quality consistently being produced by Gavin Chanin, and he’s produced some of the top wines of 2018.”
– Jeb Dunnuck

NEW! The Wine House Kitchen introduces our freshly prepared cocktails to go. Our Negroni, Old Fashioned and Cadillac Margarita are made with top-of-the-line ingredients. All you need to do to enjoy these premium cocktails is shake well and pour over ice! Each 375ml bottle is only $24 and makes three cocktails. Please keep refrigerated as they are made with fresh ingredients. NOTE: Cocktails to go are only available for curbside pickup.

Check out our CLOSEOUT wines on our website! Quantities are limited to current stock and new closeout wines are added regularly!

NOTE: The Wine House is not open for walk-in customers. We offer curbside pickup between 11AM and 6PM. Please see below for UPDATED curbside pickup instructions and contact us before coming to the store. Please let us know if you have multiple orders to consolidate.

CHAT! If you see a chat bubble in the lower right corner on our website, a Wine House employee is ready to answer your questions. Please note that chat is only available between 11AM and 6PM, and the bubble only displays when an employee is available. Chat agents can answer many questions, but cannot process orders.

LOCAL DELIVERY! For orders over $250, we now offer Special Local Delivery
Monday - Friday to addresses up to 10 miles from the store for $8/case. Additional delivery options are also available on our website.

98 Points: “There are just seven barrels of the 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict, which is from one of the top sites in the Sta. Rita Hills. Fermented with 35% whole clusters and aged 19 months in 30% new oak, it has lots of salty red and black fruits, earth, forest floor, and spicy aromas and flavors, medium to full body, a stunning texture, great mid-palate depth, and enough tannins to warrant short-term cellaring. It's a real “wow” Pinot Noir and easily the finest wine I've tasted from this estate.

Not enough can be said about the quality consistently being produced by Gavin Chanin, and he’s produced some of the top wines of 2018. Pulling primarily from sites like Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, and Sanford & Benedict, Gavin’s wines are always exceedingly elegant, with bright acidity, yet they also have depth, length, and a sense of pure class. In addition, they show singular characters. As to the winemaking, the Pinot Noirs generally see a small percentage of stems, and the new oak is kept in the 20% to 30% range pretty much across the board. Unfortunately, quantities are minuscule, so most of these releases are under 200 cases.” – Jeb Dunnuck (August 2020)

96 Points: “The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is another absolutely stunning wine in this range. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the S&B simply has it all. Ripe dark red/purplish fruit, lavender and spice scream out of the glass. The depth, power and concentration here are just unreal.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous (August 2020)

FROM THE PRODUCER

The Story
Planted in 1971, Sanford & Benedict is the most storied vineyard we work with. Its unique combination of rocky soils and cool climate makes dark and brooding wines that still have elegance and minerality.

Profile & Winemaking
These grapes were harvested on September 8th, and 11th at an average of 23.6 brix. The grapes underwent a four-day cold-soak with 1-3 punch downs by hand daily. Once dry, the wine was pressed and put into French oak barrels (30% new) where it stayed for 19 months before being racked and bottled unfiltered in March 2020.

Vineyard: Sanford & Benedict
Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills
Vine Age:24-49 Years
Soil: Diatomaceous Earth & Chert (silica rich rock)
Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
Whole Cluster:35%
Barrel Aging:19 Months in French Oak (30% new)
Harvest Date: September 8th & 11th
Brix at Harvest: 23.6
pH at Harvest: 3.31
Alcohol: 13.5%

95-97 Points: "Not yet bottled, the 2018 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict is still resting in 20% new French oak. Coming from a great site on the southern side of the Sta. Rita Hills, it offers a rocking bouquet of lemon curd, chamomile, toasted bread, spice, and a touch of crushed stone-like flinty minerality. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, it's another brilliant wine from this estate." – Jeb Dunnuck (August 2020)

95 Points: "Aromas of moss and kumquats combine with decadently ripe, yet still refreshing, limpid fruit. The textured palate reflects the stony minerality of the nose in a snappy, svelte package. It spent 20 months in mostly neutral barrique, and is a blend of the own-rooted 1971 vines as well as younger plantings. Drinking Window 2020 – 2040." – Mathew Luczy, Decanter (July 2020)

UPDATED CURBSIDE PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Place your online order.
- You will receive 2 emails. The first will acknowledge receipt of your order and the second will let you know that your order is ready for pickup.

2) Please reply to the second email to tell us you want curbside pickup. IMPORTANT: If you have multiple orders to consolidate, please let us know as we will need extra time to get those to the front of the store!
- We will prepare your order(s), move them to the front of the store and send you a confirmation email that curbside pickup is ready.

3) Pull up in front of the store. There is no need to call when you arrive at the store – just roll down your passenger window and let us know the name on the order(s).
- We will put your order(s) in your vehicle. There is no need to step out of your vehicle.

Due to the large number of phone calls we have been receiving and the time it takes to consolidate orders, please reply to the email letting you know that your wine is ready for pickup and give us time stage and consolidate your order(s). There is no need to phone the store to arrange curbside pickup.