The Hilt Estate, encouraged by Stan Kroenke’s dedication to excellence, has turned out a series of wines that have garnered substantial critical acclaim from Robert M. Parker Jr., Jeb Dunnuck, Antonio Galloni and Stephen Tanzer.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Clear crimson
Nose: Exotic and perfumed with an enticing combination of black, green and red notes. Black pepper, blackberry, Balaton cherry, purple sage and black plum. Absolutely jumps out of the glass.
Palate: Defined by velvet attack and silky texture that are the trademarks of the 2016 vintage. Powerful inner perfume mingles with powdered tannins. Focused and fresh. Moves towards a gentle collision between mouthwatering tannins, dense and dark fruit, bright acidity and lingering spice
Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir
Aging: 30% New French oak and 70% neutral French oak barrels
Awards: 93pts – Wine Advocate:William Kelley; 91pts –Â Vinous.com; 93pts – Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com
History of The Hilt Estate
To understand the wines made by The Hilt, one might need to come visit the hard and harsh conditions under which they are born.
The unobstructed, ocean facing east-west valley known as Sta. Rita Hills Valley is a complex AVA. One could divide it into four quadrants: northern-facing, southern-facing, close to the ocean, and further inland from the ocean. With such a frame, The Hilt’s favorite vineyards are in the northern-facing, closest to the ocean, windswept quadrant. These sites are the worst place for a grape grower, but the best ones for a winemaker.
Website: https://www.thehiltestate.com/