2006 Gainey Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Mission Codename: Capital Gainey
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Select the third and final delicious Pinot Noir for our exclusive Twitter Taste Live event.
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: The Gainey Vineyard
Wine Subject: 2006 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Winemaker: Kirby Anderson & Jon Engelskirger
Backgrounder:
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA, located within Santa Barbara County and almost entirely in the Santa Ynez Valley was established in 2001 and is considered one of California’s best regions for growing the Burgundian varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay due to its cooler climate. The AVA’s weather is heavily influenced by cool coastal breezes and persistent Pacific fog. Just less than 200 acres in the AVA are under vine. Interestingly, the name of the appellation was changed from Santa Rita Hills to Sta. Rita Hills so as to not conflict with Chilean powerhouse winery Vina Santa Rita.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deep burgundy in color with exceptional and clarity. Garnet to pinkish edges and slow thin legs ring the glass.
Smell – Aromas of ripe red cherries and exotic spices lead off with hints of earthiness and floral violets. a tiny touch of citrus zest tanginess and mint leaves also emerge as you explore this wine further.
Feel – Medium-bodied, supple and smooth with medium tannins and good, but not overly bright acidity resulting in well-structured but round wine.
Taste – Concentrated flavors of ripe red cherry along with other red fruits and the same exotic spice found on the nose are evenly layered over earthy notes and a touch of oak.
Finish – Clean and medium long in length with lingering flavors of cherry, oak and spice.
Conclusion – Gainey’s 2006 Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir is an exceptional example of why the Santa Ynez Valley is famous for its Burgundian varietals and more specifically its Pinot Noir. Some may blame Hollywood for this fame, but when tasting this wine, you’ll agree that its great vineyard that produces great fruit, a dedication to quality and careful winemaking and most importantly, allowing the wine show its true character.
Mission Report:
”SLEEPER ‘ELEVAGE’ ACTIVATED #TTL PRIORITY ALPHA 7 ~ PROCEED TO RALLY POINT theta.”
That was the message I received on my W.I.N.E (Wine Internet Nexus Engine) smartphone. It was enough to jolt me out of my Pinot Noir-educed daydream about one day retiring to my own Pinot vineyard.
I gesture-swiped my smartphone, which purr-beeped my successful activation gesture. I lifted the phone to my ear and spoke, “Agent Red with an Alpha 7. I have a Sleeper activation and request immediate PN-asset backup at rally point theta.”
After two seconds I heard the acknowledgment chime and I swiped the phone to securelock.
Agent White burst into the room, out of breath.
Between pants, he said, “This is happening way earlier than anticipated. What happened?”
“Keep your cool, White. You know how good Agent Elevage is. I’m not surprised that she succeeded in her mission. I am headed to theta now. All PN-a’s have been dispatched as well. Awaiting individual acknowledgments but I expect them all to be there. You stay here at HQ and await direction.”
He started to argue with me, but I simply held up my hand as I walked briskly from the room. I love telling Agent White what to do, and since Elevage was my sleeper, I made the rules on this mission.
While en route to theta, I received the individual notifications from my Pinot Noir Assets, themselves a group of world-renowned PN experts, some of them Agents from around the valley – and around the country. They have been waiting for this moment, and I expect all of them to be there.
On arrival, Agent Elevage greeted me in the lobby of the secret location. We exchanged the safe phrase. Both of us satisfied that all was in order, Elevage escorted me into the room where our secret tasting was to be conducted. There, on the long table, were place settings for ten people. Each setting had 7 Pinot Noirs poured in equal measure into fine burgundy glasses. Each glass sat on a printed letter between A and F. In the center of the table, 7 bottles were wrapped in brown paper, each with a corresponding letter.
“Well done, Agent Elevage. I know that this deep cover mission has been long and perilous. You are to be commended for your efforts.”
Agent Elevage just gave a humble nod and then escorted me to my seat. Gradually, the rest of our tasting panel arrived. Our collective mission: Evaluate the 7 Pinot Noirs that Agent Elevage has procured – and choose the best for our historic online tasting.
Once everyone was convened, the tasting quickly commenced. The room was hushed at first, as everyone sniffed, swirled, sipped and spit. The only other sounds were those of pens on paper or keys clattering on laptops. These people were serious about their Pinot Noir.
When everyone was finished with their evaluation, spirited conversation took place as each of us listed our top three winners. One of our agents tabulated the results, and three clear winners emerged; Today’s 2006 Gainey Vineyards Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2007 was declared our favorite Santa Barbara Pinot Noir in the tasting.
With that, Agent Elevage sprang up and dashed from the room. Over her shoulder she shouted, “I’m off to procure the remaining cases! There are only a handful left so…”
And she was gone, leaving the rest of us to share our thoughts on the wine.
Here is a detailed tasting experience from one of our esteemed, Dr. Pinot:
Doctor Pinot says:
Doctor Pinot had recently retired from his job as station chief in a country, that was now in the recesses of his memory, fatigued from the politics of politics; and, now he was back home in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was sitting at his old table, in the main dining room of the Buellton Hitching Post, watching Harry in the open kitchen, behind the glass, expertly turn the steaks, searing on the grill above the red oak fire. He was glad that this was off-season, and that the ‘Sideways’ tourist crowds were at home sitting on their wallets. The now famous winemakers had returned to reclaim what was once their locals’ joint: a place where they could talk over the crush; the newest winemaking protocols; and, their recent misadventures, over glasses of Pinot.
Harry, who had, one late night, named his old friend ‘Dr. Pinot’, carried out the Smoked Prime Rib of Pork, and placed it on the table, while offering to pour a glass of 2006 Gainey Pinot Noir from a sample bottle that winemaker Kirby Anderson had tasted with the wait staff at today’s pre-meal line-up. On the first taste, he knew that he was home. That he had returned to Pinot central; the heartland, where Santa Barbara Pinot was first crushed in memorable ‘60’s parties way up on High Mountain Road. The best sites were now planted in the low hills above the Santa Ynez River, above Hwy. 246, in the cool western end of the Valley, across 101 towards the Pacific, the site of Gainey’s Adam’s Ranch.
Putting the glass of the 2006 Gainey Pinot Noir up to his nose, aromas of Linn Farms olallieberries, Bing Cherries, Prune d’Argent plums, remote backwoods campfires, and baker’s vanilla, resulted in an olfactory neuron induced smile. The focused flavors of the bright, ripe, dark red fruit, the Asain spice notes, and the supple tannins and impeccable structure, completed the seduction. This would be Dr. Pinot’s new house wine, for his new life, in his new home.”
To learn more about Doctor Pinot, follow his Top Secret Twitter Stream.
The Wine Spies would like to offer a hearty thank you to all of our panelists, even those whose cover we cannot blow, but who provided their Pinot expertise and time for our blind tasting!
TWITTER TASTE LIVE - LIVE TASTING ALERT!
Our LIVE online tasting will take place on March 14th. Detailed instructions on how you can participate will be included with your order. Just be sure to keep at least one bottle on hand. It’ll be hard, but try!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of The Gainey Vineyard and tasting room can be seen in this satellite photo.
