The 2016 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard is pale to medium ruby with aromas of warm cinnamon and touches of tar with turned earth, dried red and black cherries, warm blackberries, tea leaves and woodsmoke. Light to medium-bodied, it has good intensity of earthy fruits in the mouth with firm, grainy tannins and good freshness, finishing long.

Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard offers notes of kirsch, raspberry tart and pomegranate with touches of cinnamon stick, black pepper, sage and black soil. The medium-bodied palate fills the mouth with fragrant red berry flavors, supported by chewy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy.

A ripe, fruit loaded effort that gives up tons of black fruits, ground herbs, spice and licorice, the 2013 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard (destemmed and aged 14 months in 38% new French oak) is medium-bodied, supple, rounded and a touch chunky on the palate. It has some oak to integrate, yet it’s nicely concentrated and textured, and has plenty to like. It should be better in a year or so and keep through 2023.

My favorite red in the lineup, the 2012 Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard's dark ruby color is followed by terrific notes of black raspberry and plum fruits, licorice and hints of violets. Medium to full-bodied, layered and nicely structured, it shows the vintage's rounded texture, yet it also has solid underlying structure. Aged 14 months in 30% new French oak and from the loamy, clay and shale soils of the Sta. Rita Hills, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 5-7 years.