The Hilt 2017 Pinot Noir Estate, Sta. Rita Hills

The Hilt is a project by the owners of Screaming Eagle producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that's truly exceptional. They selected vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills for their estate. The Hilt Estate is made up of three distinct vineyards: Bentrock, Radian, and Puerta del Mar. The two distinct ridges, Bentrock and Radian, define the property and are the primary sources for all our wines. These ridges include an extensive range of altitudes, mesoclimates, hours of sunshine, and soil types.

Each vineyard parcel on The Hilt Estate is unique, all share three highly desirable characteristics. First, our grapevines do not have the easy life of plants grown in fertile soil; poor soils force the vines to send their roots deep in search of nutrients, resulting in better fruit. Second, our plentiful sunlight and maritime climate, with its strong winds and cool days and nights, means that grapes ripen slowly while retaining their acidity. Finally, our vines are carefully selected for low vigor, to produce grapes with concentrated, complex flavors. The estate is planted with a diverse selection of clonal materials, from which Matt Dees chooses the Pinot Noir grapes to create The Hilt’s wines.

This Estate Pinot Noir was aged 12 months in 30% New French oak barrels. Vinous scored this 95 points saying "The 2017 Estate Pinot Noir is super-impressive, especially as the estate's entry-level Pinot. A rush of sweet red and purplish berry fruit, lavender, blood orange, exotic spice and licorice all race out of the glass in an expansive, beautifully resonant Pinot that dazzles from start to finish. Quite simply, the 2017 offers unreal quality at this level and price. Vineyard sources are 45% Radian, 30% Bentrock and 25% Sanford & Benedict. Don't miss it!"


Jeb Dunnuck scored this 94 points saying "Leading off the Pinot Noirs, the 2017 Pinot Noir Estate reveals a deeper ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a ripe, sexy bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, scorched earth, violets, and background oak. Rounded, medium to full-bodied, textured, and just loaded with dark fruit on the palate, it's beautifully balanced and will drink fabulously well for at least 7-8 years."

DecanterMagazine scored this 93 points saying "Bentrock Vineyard lies in the southwestern corner of the Sta. Rita Hills, and produces racy, lively wines that can be almost austere in their youth. The Hilt’s 2017 vintage of this estate site takes this edgy nature and combines it with a velvety richness. The nose is at once breezy and metallic, with aromas of clay dust, gunmetal and chalk. The palate is fine and granular, showing flavors of salted cranberry, grapefruit pith and cloves."