Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2023

From the western edge of Santa Barbara, where fog rolls in like clockwork, and Pinot thrives on the brink, comes Sea Smoke — one of the Santa Rita Hills’ most quietly obsessive estates.
Founded in 1999 on a coveted stretch of south-facing hillsides, Sea Smoke produces stunning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in what many consider a near-perfect microclimate: cool ocean air funneled through the Santa Ynez River canyon, steady sun, and soils that force the vines to work just hard enough. The fog that creeps across the vineyard (hence the namesake “sea smoke”) does the rest.

In the cellar, winemaker Don Schroder takes an almost Burgundian approach. Ten distinct Pinot Noir clones are hand-harvested, fermented, and aged separately, barrel by barrel, before final blends are assembled with precision and restraint. The result? Wines that are layered, expressive, and unmistakably Sea Smoke — powerful without being heavy, elegant without trying too hard.

Like “Ten,” this Pinot is estate-grown from carefully tended vines, with fruit fermented and aged for 16 months in French oak, approximately 42% new. This barrel regimen gives depth and aromatic lift while allowing the vineyard’s cool-climate character to shine. “Southing” emphasizes expressive red fruit and finesse. Aromas of fresh currant, strawberry, and rose petal presage a palate of cranberry, wild raspberry, and light pomegranate, framed by coastal minerality and fine, silky tannins. Subtle spice notes like clove and nutmeg rise from the oak, enhancing the wine’s elegant complexity.