Santa Barbara: On the Road…Finally!

BY ANTONIO GALLONI |

Santa Barbara continues its streak of superb vintages with the 2019s. Chardonnay and red Rhône varieties are particularly strong, while the Pinots are just a bit less consistent. There’s plenty more to explore in this report, including Bordeaux blends and the first of the 2020s. As I have written before, the vinous landscape in Santa Barbara has so much to offer.

A Little Perspective

The first Santa Barbara wine that I have a distinct memory of tasting, the first wine that made me pay attention, was a Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot. That was during my corporate days at Deutsche Bank. Right away, I knew there was something special about that wine. I am not sure I knew exactly what it was, but I knew. When I started reviewing these wines professionally, about a dozen years ago, it all came together. I quickly realized that Santa Barbara is home to extraordinary vineyards and talented winemakers who know how to get the most out of those sites.

Right before we went to press I attended a dear friend’s birthday party. It was the first time many of us had seen each other in two years. The wines were ridiculous. Too much, to be honest, and yet there is nothing better for perspective than having an education in the classics. We drank the very best and rarest of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône. Iconic wines. The very next day I worked through a few last Pinot samples. I was blown away by what I tasted. Blown away. The purity of the fruit, the expression of place, the clear voice of a vintage – all the hallmarks of the world’s greatest wines and regions – they were all there.

Curiously, Santa Barbara remains very much undiscovered by the broader population. That happens to be great news for savvy consumers. The best wines offer tremendous quality and pedigree. They also happen to be significantly undervalued relative to global peers, both at retail and on restaurant wine lists, where the wines often see very gentle markups, even in the most high-end establishments.

Angela Osborne (seen here at Crown Point) turned out a set of sublime 2019s at A Tribute to Grace.

Angela Osborne (seen here at Crown Point) turned out a set of sublime 2019s at A Tribute to Grace.

The Pace of Change Is Fast and Furious

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Santa Barbara continues its streak of superb vintages with the 2019s. Chardonnay and red Rhône varieties are particularly strong, while the Pinots are just a bit less consistent. There’s plenty more to explore in this report, including Bordeaux blends and the first of the 2020s. As I have written before, the vinous landscape in Santa Barbara has so much to offer.