2023 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Rita Hills AVA
Tasting Notes
“Deep red hue. Scents of cherry, violet, raspberry, boysenberry, strawberry, and cloves unite in this decadent Pinot Noir. Upon taste, these elements build intensity and are framed by fine tannins, playful tension, and bright acidity. The finish continues with restraint, showcasing intricacy and freshness. This wine will age gracefully through 2033.”
~Bill Brosseau, Director of Winemaking
March 2025
Production Data
Growers: Terlato Family
Winemaker: Bill Brosseau
Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Elevation/Exposure: 395 feet; North
Soil: Santa Lucia shaly clay loam and Botella clay loam, with proportion of fragmented chert
Vineyard Age: 52 years, some replantings 15 years
Viticulture Practice: Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW)
Vinification: Destemmed, fermented in Stainless steel
Cooperage & Ageing: 15 months in French oak, 68% new
Production: 19 barrels
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir (Clone 828, Clone 667, Clone 943)
Acidity: 3.24 pH, 7.04 TA (g/L)
Alcohol: 14.3%
Harvest: October 17, 2023, hand harvested
Club Release: February 2025
Release Price: $82
Drink Now through TBA
Past Vintage Wine Scores
“The Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir is always one of our favorites, and the 2022 vintage doesn’t disappoint. Of the three Sta Rita Hills vineyards that Testarossa sources from, Sanford & Benedict is the furthest east. It has young vines (14 years old) and is planted to Dijon Clones 828, 667, and 943. The wine is red fruited with notes of red and black berries, rose petals, and cassis. Soft and pliant in the mouth, it shows an overall sense of refinement and a very long, focused finish with well-knit tannins. Matured 15 months in 57% new French oak. pH 3.41, 14.3% alc.”
Don Winkler
International Wine Review
June 2024
“Dense and juicy fruit aromas are layered in herb, rock and intoxicating spices on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. There’s concentration to the palate even though the flavors of cherry, strawberry and mace stay delicate.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
August 2024
“Testarossa’s most refined single vineyard Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County’s most famous, historic vineyard. A fragrant red berry/cherry nose is followed by a silky palate of dense dark red cherry. Beautifully balanced with deep fruit intensity and firm acidity and super persistent finish. Very well-made wine. Matured 11 months in 50% new French oak.”
Don Winkler
International Wine Review
February 2023
“Dark boysenberry, cassis and violet make for an intense and pure fruit expression on the nose of this bottling. Leathery tannins encase the palate, where refreshing acidity cuts through lush, extracted blackberry sauce flavors. Quite ripe, but well packaged.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
December 2023
“A wonderfully spicy nose is comprised by exceptionally pretty red and blue pinot fruit that is laced with subtle floral nuances, and in particular, violet and rose petal. The succulent, round, generously proportioned and highly seductive middleweight flavors aren’t quite as precise but do offer outstanding persistence on the dusty, moderately and youthfully austere finale. This is also very impressive.”
Allen Meadows
Burghound
October 2022
“Leads with effusive black cherry and blackberry fruit, with light incense and anise in the background. The finish is framed by a lightly singed vanilla accent, with the fruit playing out easily. Drink now through 2026. 648 cases made.”
James Molesworth
Wine Spectator
July 2022
Cellar Selection
“Aroma of cherry syrup, incense, oak spice and loamy soil make for a complete nose on this bottling from a historic property. There is compelling tension to the sip, where bright and juicy red fruits are spiced by cinnamon, with oak emerging on the grippy finish. Drink now–2035.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
“Deep ruby color. lush and deep with cherry, raspberry, rhubarb and spice, a delicious blend of characteristics, superb and memorable.”
Anthony Dias Blue
February 2021
“Exotic, pure perfume of violets and roses interwoven with raspberry and cherry that carries over to a lithe, finely honed and intensely concentrated palate with fine grained tannins that lend just enough spine. Finishes with a vibrant, long aftertaste.”
Don Winkler
International Wine Review
December 2021
“Baked red cherries, pomegranate juice and anise aromas show on the nose of this single-vineyard bottling. The palate is loaded with barrel spices of nutmeg, amaro and light peat moss, with thick cherry juice at the core.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Enthusiast
December 2021
“Lovely raspberry nose; silky texture, juicy and crisp, fresh, structured and long; a stunning, elegant wine.”
Anthony Dias Blue
March 2020
“The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard offers a bright, juicy, youthful style as well as lots of raspberry and cranberry fruits, notes of violets and bouquet garni, a kiss of background oak, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish.” 93+ points.
Jeb Dunnuck
August 2020
“Brilliant red. Ripe raspberry, cherry-vanilla and floral scents show good depth as well as vivacity thanks to a spicy topnote. Energetic red fruit flavors display very good depth and take on hints of candied rose and exotic spices with air. Finishes with sharp focus and strong cling, leaving red fruit preserve and floral notes behind.”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni Vinous
November 2019
“Elegant and silky, juicy and pure; from the first superstar Pinot vineyard in California; smooth and restrained, Burgundian and long with superb finesse and balance.”
Anthony Dias Blue
August 2018
“Deep, vivid red. Displays vibrant, spice-accented red berry, cola and floral pastille aromas that show very good clarity and a suggestion of smoky minerality. Sweet, pliant and concentrated, offers ripe raspberry and cherry flavors that are enlivened by a kick of juicy acidity. Rich but energetic, delivering strong, fruity lift on a long, sappy and gently tannic finish”
Josh Raynolds
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
November 2017
“Sanford & Beneduct Vineyard is one of California’s finest historic vineyards. The Pinot Noir grapes from the vineyard are very pretty with aromas of dark red cherry perfume. This wine is soft and elegant on the palate, beautifully balanced, silky smooth with persistent bright acidity on the finish.”
International Wine Review
“This Pinot Noir from the historic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is elegant and refined with a pure and flavorful palate of red berry fruit and a hint of earth. It has a silky texture, excellent balance, and a long finish. Well done.”
International Wine Review
The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation is now back at Testarossa! Our first vintage from this outstanding vineyard was in 2004 when it was still under the guidance of famed Richard Sanford, pioneer of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. In 2007 the Terlato family took ownership of the vineyard, making it one of several of their grape-growing properties including La Rinconada Vineyard just next door. Testarossa currently receives 6 of 16 acres of Pinot Noir and 4 of 28 acres of Chardonnay produced from Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. This beautiful vineyard sits at just about 400 feet in elevation with a northern exposure, just southeast of Lompoc. The soil consists of well-drained gravelly loam mixed with clay and fragmented chert.
The area is situated near an unusual valley perpendicular to the coast that allows funneled winds between the mountains and the sea that is ideal for growing cool-climate varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.