Sanford Winery & Vineyard is one of the foundational names in California’s Sta. Rita Hills, widely recognized for establishing the region’s reputation for world‑class, cool‑climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It remains a benchmark estate whose identity is inseparable from the land it helped define.
La Rinconada is the sister vineyard to our neighboring iconic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. La Rinconada shares a similar Monterey Shale soil composition as S&B while also possessing blocks of alluvial soil accumulated over many thousands of years. This La Rinconada single vineyard wine is selected from individual barrels of our highest quality La Rinconada blocks. Our hillside grown Dijon clones 777, 667, 115 and Mt. Eden selection east of our winery provide the incredible structure, intensity and complexity within this wine.
96 Vinous The 2019 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard is a heady, dazzling wine. The 100% whole clusters lend striking aromatic top notes that soar out of the glass. Sweet red cherry, sage, rose petal, blood orange and lavender give this beguiling, layered Pinot tons of complexity. Savory, wild and constantly changing in the glass, the Rinconada has so much to offer. This brilliant, captivating Pinot from Racines has so much to offer.
94 Wine Enthusiast Hints of iodine, damp wood and rust give an earthy edge to the baked raspberry and dark-plum fruit at the core of this bottling. There's a vibrant pepper spice on the sip, sprinkled across the black-plum, boysenberry and dried mint flavors. The tannins are still firm and could use some patience.
91 Wine Spectator A light-bodied and open-knit style, with dried rose petal and red tea notes infusing a core of bitter cherry and damson plum fruit flavors. A mineral note blossoms through the finish, adding mouthwatering cut. A pretty, charming wine that's also sneaky long. Drink now through 2027. 267 cases made.
