Our 11th Year !

$100

VM 90 (12/2007): Deep red. Spicy cherry and raspberry on the nose, with exotic cola and cinnamon qualities adding complexity. Sweet red berry and kirsch flavors are open-knit, juicy and lightly firmed by silky tannins. Gains a peppery, spicy quality on the finish, which is smoky, sweet, broad and long. "The lots for this bottling are chosen for being fruit-driven and requiring less time to open," said winemaker Kris Curran.

BH 88 (10/2007): (from Santa Rita Hills fruit, 40% new oak and bottled at 14.7%). A lush and opulent nose redolent of a spice bazaar features very ripe red, blue and violet aromas that are in keeping with the silky and round medium weight plus flavors that are really quite stylish if not nearly as concentrated as those of its two stable mates, all wrapped in a delicious, pure and tangy finish that carries the considerable alcohol with more grace than one might guess. Drink 2009+.

2008

$89

2009

Lightly Scuffed Label

$95

WA 92 (8/2012): The 2009 Pinot Noir Botella sweeps across the palate with deep, rich layers of dark fruit. Smoke, licorice, incense and leather develop in the glass. The Botella is one of the more extroverted, juicy Pinots in this lineup. The wine’s persistence, depth and overall sense of harmony are all first-rate. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

2010

$95

2012

$95

2013

$99

2014

$89

2003

$125

VM 88 (2/2006): Medium red. Slightly herbal aromas of cherry, raspberry, menthol and rose petal. Sweet and fat but a bit dry-edged; hints at an underripe/overripe character. A softer-styled, rather oaky pinot noir that could use a bit more energy.

2005

$125

VM 91 (12/2007): Dark red. Zesty raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by cinnamon, black cardamom and violet. The perfume built with air, gaining depth and power. Lush kirsch and blackcurrant flavors seem vaguely syrah-like, but there's excellent mineral tang keeping things in check. Finishes with impressively sweet red fruit flavors, supple tannins and striking persistence.

BH 88 (10/2007): This is also notably ripe with an attractive breadth of spice and dark and blue berry fruit aromas including cola and coffee that complement the concentrated flavors blessed with ample dry extract and a nicely intense if somewhat edgy and slightly warm finish that is not at present as well integrated as it might be. There is clearly good material here but the youthful awkwardness has yet to pass. Drink 2009+.

2010

$109

2013

$85

2014

$99

Decanter 94 (4/2023): The 2014 Southing offers loads of toffee, caramel and cedar aromas. On the palate, medium to full-bodied layers of ripe cherry, plums, and boysenberry fruits mingle with chocolate shavings and mint. Pixalated tannins coat the palate while a firm backbone of tangy blood orange acidity maintains freshness and drives through a long, savoury herb, sandalwood, and smoke-tinged finish. (Drink between 2023-2034)

2015

$79

2016

$109

VM 94 (9/2019): The 2016 Pinot Noir Southing is terrific. Finely cut and bright, with soaring floral and citrus overtones, the Southing offers a beguiling mix of deep fruit and aromatic intensity. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint and rose petal are all finely cut in a precise, mid-weight Pinot of real distinction. This is such a pretty wine. Antonio Galloni.

2017

$95

2018

$95

VM 95 (8/2022): The 2018 Pinot Noir Southing is laced with bold dark-fleshed fruit, menthol, licorice, spice and mocha. A wine of volume and depth, the 2018 offers tons of allure, with plush contours and impeccable overall balance. Antonio Galloni.

2018

$199

2019

$100

VM 93 (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Southing is a rich, effusive wine. Bright red cherry fruit, rose petal, blood orange cinnamon and orange peel lend brightness to this mid-weight, articulate Pinot. This opens nicely with air, showing lovely density to play off its natural focus. (Drink between 2022-2031). Antonio Galloni.

2019

$109

2019

$229

2020

$105

VM 92 (8/2025): The 2020 Pinot Noir Southing is rich and voluptuous, showing its oak imprint prominently. Baking spices and waxy wood tones sit atop integrated tannins and supple acids. Vanilla, black raspberry and cassis weave through the palate, rounding into a gently bitter close. This is a broad, soft-edged Pinot with plenty of immediate appeal. I'd prefer more brightness, but this is clearly a very well-made wine. (Drink between 2025-2031). Billy Norris.

2020

$89

2020

$210

2021

$105

VM 93 (8/2025): The 2021 Pinot Noir Southing shows a step up in elegance in this tasting of the 2020s and 2021s, layering plush textures over generous berry and cherry fruit. A touch of bitter spice and gentle acidity add lift, keeping the wine poised and engaging through the finish. (Drink between 2025-2032). Billy Norris.

2021

$89

2021

$210

2003

$125

VM 90 (2/2006): Good saturated deep red. Dark raspberry and musky espresso on the oaky nose. Juicy, firm and structured but also satisfyingly fat and sweet, with a finer grain and a higher pitch than the Southing. Still, the mocha and chocolate flavors show an almost Rhone-like ripeness. Finishes with substantial but soft tannins and a positive dryness. This should benefit from a year or two of cellaring.

2005

$125

VM 93 (12/2007): Deep red. Exotically perfumed nose offers a wild array of dark berry, cherry, incense and floral scents. Spicy red and dark berry flavors are refreshingly bitter but became sweeter with air, gaining a white pepper and baking spice character. Really stains the palate, finishing with Outstanding cling and length. I was looking for oakiness but didn't find it. Curran noted that she's as meticulous as possible with her winemaking, leaving as little as possible to chance. As she put it: "Spontaneity isn't a good idea when you're making red expensive wine."

BH 90 (10/2007): A distinctly ripe yet not surmature nose features hints of spice, black currant and noticeable but not dominant wood influence that continues onto the big, rich, bold and sweet flavors that possess excellent volume on the delicious, sappy and chocolaty finish that has both a subtle tang and more than a touch of warmth. What elevates this beyond the ordinary though is the fine sense of underlying complexity as well as the much better than average length. In sum, this is no ballerina and it's not my style but it does make a statement. Drink: 2010+

2008

$89

VM 91 (12/2010): Saturated ruby. Deep, pungent aromas of black raspberry, cherry pie, vanillin oak and smoky Indian spices. Sappy, palate-coating cherry and dark berry compote flavors show an exotic floral pastille quality and hints of clove and mocha. A distinctly rich, fleshy pinot that will aggravate Burgundy purists, but this wine makes quite a statement.

2009

$119

VM 92+ (10/2011): Opaque ruby. Pungent, expressive bouquet offers dark berry compote, cola, vanilla bean and incense qualities, along with slow-building spiciness and notes of clove and mocha. Lush, palate-coating blackberry and mulberry flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and complicated by notes of spicecake and candied violet. Tannins build with air and carry through a very long, sweet, oak-spicy finish. This is a baby.

WA 89 (8/2012): One of the Sea Smoke flagships, the 2009 Pinot Noir Ten impresses for its depth and sheer power. Layers of flavor flow through to the huge, dramatic finish in a full-bodied, intense Pinot. Once the intensity of the fruit fades, there is not much development in the glass, which results in an overall impression of one-dimensionality. The Ten is made from all ten Pinot clones planted on the property. While a solid effort, I expected more from this offering, which also happens to be the wine through which I discovered Sea Smoke years ago. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017.

2011

$95

2012

$109

WA 95 (8/2015): A much bigger, richer Pinot Noir, the 2012 Pinot Noir Ten is a cellar selection chosen with the focus on structure and richness. Brought up in 65% new French oak, it has sensational purity and depth in its sweet black raspberry, crushed violets, spice and subtle oak aromas and flavors. These all carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied, concentrated and textured, with notable tannic grip. It's another wine from this estate that deliver tons of flavor authority while never seeming heavy, cumbersome or over the top. I wish more estates would make wine in this style.

2013

$99

2014

$109

2015

$99

2016

$109

VM 93 (9/2019): Sea Smoke's 2016 Pinot Noir Ten is rich, boisterous and inviting from the very first taste. A wine of real immediacy and impact, the Ten has so much to offer. Black cherry, plum, hard candy, lavender, sweet spice and new oak are front and center in this lush, beautifully persistent Pinot Noir from Sea Smoke. The Ten will appeal most to readers who appreciate lush Pinots. There is certainly plenty to like here, that much is obvious. Antonio Galloni.

2017

$99

2018

$95

VM 95 (8/2022): The 2018 Pinot Noir Ten is a classic Sea Smoke wine. Dark, ample and enveloping, the 2018 possesses notable richness and volume right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit cherry, plum, mocha, lavender and sweet spice all meld together, framed by supple, silky tannins that add considerable immediacy and overall appeal. Antonio Galloni.

2018

Ten Pinot Noir (1.5 L)

$199

2019

$109

VM 94+ (8/2022): The 2019 Pinot Noir Ten is bright, punchy and super-expressive. It shows a bit more depth and textural resonance than the Southing. Sweet red cherry fruit blood orange, plum and spice flesh nicely with a bit of time. There's plenty of energy and persistence to support a number of years of fine drinking. (Drink between 2024-2034). Antonio Galloni.

2019

Ten Pinot Noir (1.5 L)

$279

2020

$115

VM 93 (8/2025): The 2020 Pinot Noir Ten offers more tension and brightness than Southing, with opulence delivered in a velvety frame. Pomegranate, iodine, sweet spice, white smoke and toasty French oak merge into a seamless whole. Less about fine delineation of flavors than about a unified impression, this is a harmonious, flowing wine with a pliant mid-palate and a soft finish. (Drink between 2025-2032). Billy Norris.

2021