Wine Advocate 95
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills, matured for 10 months in neutral oak, is the first appellation-wide Pinot from Donnachadh. Like the Chardonnay, this vintage was sourced entirely from the Donnachadh estate, although that may not be the case in the future. It has a pale ruby color and very pure, fragrant scents of cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, bergamot, tea leaves and herbs. The medium-bodied palate is finely chalky and wonderfully fresh, boasting concentrated red berry flavors, fine citrusy accents and a long, ethereal finish. This really stands out for its detail and expressionit's as if the volume was turned up yet the definition preserved."

The Wine
100% Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills AVA Certified Organic 10% Whole cluster Aged on lees for 10 months before bottling (8% new oak) 13.5% ABV

The Estate
Drew and Laurie Duncan searched almost a decade for the perfect cool climate site to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir before finally discovering Donnachadh Vineyard (pronounced DON-nuh-kuh). Organically farmed in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the property was planted to vine by the Duncans in 2013. Santa Barbara Winemaker Ernst Storm is at the healm for winemaking at Donnachadh. Having hailed from the Western Cape of South Africa, his experience making balanced wines from cool climate grapes has served him well in the Sta. Rita Hills. Ernst believes that the diverse soils and microclimates within Santa Barbara County make it a region with endless potential.

Donnachadh Vineyard has special characteristics that inspired the Duncans to lay roots there: its north facing slope shields the grapes from too much direct sunlight, and is quite steep while lying at a higher elevation. The property is perfectly situated in a corridor that carries the ocean breeze inland, cooling the grapes in the morning and evening and preventing heat from building up during the day. Overall, the hillside environment is quite challenging for the vines, which limits yields and produces grapes of exceptional character. Laurie has a PhD is Geology, so soil composition was important when choosing this sitetheir vineyard is unique in that it offers several different soil types (predominantly clay, with marine shale deposits) which contribute to Donnachadhs elegant wines of purity, energy and warmth.

PRODUCER SUMMARY
Inspired by the wines of Burgundy and the Northern Rhone, Donnachadh strives to make wines that recognize the uniqueness of their vineyard site. The cool climate and ocean breeze allow the grapes to ripen more slowly, developing rich, complex flavors while still retaining a bright natural acidity.

VINEYARDS & VITICULTURE
The vineyard consists of two main parts: the hillside blocks, and the riverside blocks. The riverside blocks sit alongside the Santa Ynez River. They are more sheltered from the wind than the hillside blocks and the soil is a delicate and well drained sandy loam that sits on top of deep layers of gravel river deposits. The hillside blocks are more exposed to the ocean winds. The soil there is derived from marine shale deposits and features more clay, rocks and cobbles than the riverside blocks. Overall, the hillside environment is quite challenging for the vines, limiting yields and producing grapes of exceptional character.

HISTORY
Family owned and organically farmed Donnachadh (Don-nuh-kuh) Vineyard is situated on Santa Rosa Road in the famed Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. Thats prime territory for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and cool climate Syrah. Its also the culmination of a dream for owners Laurie and Drew Duncan. The Duncans followed a passion for wine into the pursuit of a site to plant their own estate property. After an expansive search they found a two hundred eighty-five-acre gem in a fine neighborhood. The hard work of planning and planting the vineyard is now done, but Donnachadhs wine timeline is just beginning.

Farming Practice:Certified Organic