Francis Coppola Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2022 is a California Pinot Noir with more depth, spice, and structure than the smooth, everyday type you often encounter. Within the Diamond Collection, this Appellation Series holds a distinct place of its own, thanks to its origin in Santa Barbara County where morning mist extends the growing season and gives the wine extra tension and concentration. The result is a layered, silky red wine that comes into its own at the table while remaining approachable in style.
The origin here is not a detail, but a defining component of the style.
- Location / Origin: Santa Barbara County is located in the southern part of California's Central Coast. This is important for this wine, as this appellation is known as one of the most distinctive cooler origins for Pinot Noir within the state.
- Climate & Influences: The morning mist extends the growing season and helps the grapes retain their natural acidity, while at the same time building sufficient ripeness and concentration.
- Geography: Santa Barbara County is special because the coastal mountain ranges here adopt an east-west orientation. This open position enhances the influence of cool air from the ocean and gives the wine extra freshness and refinement.
The viticulture and cellar approach are focused on texture, spiciness, and a broad, ripe style.
- Maturation / Oak ageing: This Pinot Noir ages for 7 months in oak, in a combination of French and American oak. This gives the wine extra roundness, soft toast notes, and a warm spicy undertone without overpowering the fruit.
- Alcohol percentage: With 14.5% alcohol, this wine has enough body for its ripe, full style and the well-integrated oak influence.
The blend is largely built on Pinot Noir, with a small addition for extra color and spiciness.
- 94.1% Pinot Noir – Santa Barbara County: Pinot Noir clearly forms the core here, giving the wine its refined texture, aromatic lift, and red fruit character.
- 5.7% Syrah – Santa Barbara County: Syrah gives the blend a darker spiciness and extra structure, making the wine firmer in the glass.
- 0.2% Other grapes – Santa Barbara County: This minimal addition supports the finishing of the blend without taking the focus away from the Pinot Noir character.
- 90 points, Wine Enthusiast Best Buy (2022): Praised for its vibrant nose with alpine strawberry and black cherry, followed by black raspberry, clove, and star anise on the palate.
- Gold, Mundus Vini (2022): Awarded a gold medal, which provides additional confirmation for this vintage in an international wine competition.
- 15.5 points, Perswijn (2021): This earlier vintage falls within the good to very good category on Perswijn's 20-point scale.
