Earthy bing cherry, crushed lavender, pomegranate compote. Sweet black raspberry, brown tobacco leaf, ripe blood orange. Cranberry cocktail, wild blueberry, and spiced strawberry puree muddle with damp forest floor and tree bark in a rich and expressive yet remarkably earth-driven attack. Delicate violet, flower petals, and toasted wood gradually emerge to contribute a hint of aromatic sweetness that wafts gently above natural and umami-laden notes of undergrowth, sauteed mushroom, and decomposing leaves. Cardamom and cinnamon impart a dousing of complicating spice while impressions of wet clay and ocean brine tell elaborate tales of soil. Dense, ripe, and slightly broad in character with deep bass-toned aromatics that play dazzlingly with a wonderful gamy and savory edge. Medium plus in body with mild tannin and elevated acidity. This 2016 Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir by Byron Winery is a wonderfully complex and terroir expressive red from Santa Barbara's Santa Rita Hills.

Located directly across Santa Rosa Road from the original Sanford & Benedict plantings, the Fiddlestix Vineyard sits right in the heart of one of Santa Barbara's greatest viticultural zones. Because of its low elevation soils at this property are slightly higher in clay content than most nearby vineyards which helps it shape wines of incredible concentration and depth. This bottling, crafted by Byron Winery using Pinot Noir sourced from the Fiddlestix Vineyard, is an excellent example of the distinctive character of this unique site. While it possesses plenty of ripe and aromatic fruit it is this wine's delightfully earthy side that truly sets it apart. It is impeccably balanced and nuanced, showcasing brilliant terroir framed in a pretty and polished package. This is a delicious offering by a benchmark Santa Barbara County producer.