2019 Sandhi "Sta. Rita Hills" Pinot noir

Sandhi, an ancient Sanskrit word meaning alliance or collaboration, reflects the partnership of its creators. Founded in 2010 by Rajat Parr (wine director for Mina Group restaurants and one of the most lauded sommeliers in the world), Charles Banks (formerly the owner of Screaming Eagle) and esteemed winemaker Sashi Moorman, Sandhi Wines is a boutique California winery focusing on select Santa Barbara County vineyards. Sandhi represents a union essential to the production of wine: the collaboration between man, earth, and vine. Sandhi explors the expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines throughout the Santa Barbara County terroir. The individual vineyards from which these grapes originate–some legendary, some new–have been exhaustively vetted for character, personality, and balance. Employing the wisdom and talents of people who know the vineyards, Sandhi is dedicated to making wines of finesse, minerality, acidity, structure and balance.

Since being founded in 2010 the wines have immediately received widespread acclaim – the Wine Advocate said recently “It is quite conceivable that within a few years the Sandhi Chardonnays and Pinots could become reference point, benchmark wines for Santa Barbara, and California, for that matter".

"Sandhi's 'village' Pinot Noir is vinified with the same level of detail as the single vineyard wines. The wine is a blend of 6 different vineyards from the southwestern part of the Sta. Rita Hills including Bentrock, Rita's Crown, Rinconada, and Mt. Carmel. This wine showcases the freshness, finesse, and exuberance of the appellation." -- Winery