Labels

Friday, September 11, 2020

Babs Pinot Noir from Adam Lee and The Wine and Cheese Place










A collaboration between John Wagner, Adam Lee and The Wine and Cheese Place
Only 92 cases produced.   


This wine is quite amazing and at $30 it is a steal!  

It could easily be a $50-60 dollar Pinot Noir
2019 Babs Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir...$29.99
This brand is a partnership between Sonoma County Winemaker Adam Lee and Santa Barbara County vineyard owner John Wagner. This inaugural bottling begins with aromas of baked black plum, star anise and cinnamon, leading into a palate of hefty mulberry, wild berry, grilled meat and purple flowers. The acidity penetrates throughout
Rated 93/100 The Wine Enthusiast

A four barrel blend of Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County, Babs is a collaborative effort between The Wine and Cheese Place and Pinot Noir legend Adam Lee of Clarice Wine Company and previously Siduri. Juicy red fruits dominate the nose, with subtle notes of umami and sandalwood. The palate reveals a fruitier side, with notes of bing cherry and pomegranate at the forefront. Bright acidity and minerality are balanced by partial whole cluster fermentation, and a small amount of new oak creating a long juicy finish. Fruit for the project was sourced exclusively from cooler blocks of the Sierra Madre and Peake Ranch Vineyards located in the Santa Maria and Sta. Rita Hills Appellations. A beautiful representation of central coast Pinot Noir!




The Blending Session

We did a zoom tasting and blending with Adam Lee with the barrel samples!

Our goal was to showcase the sophistication of Adam's wines while making an approachable blend that our customers would enjoy in every setting, with or without food. We began our blending session by tasting five distinct barrels; each had its own personality.


Barrel #1 was jammier than the others and very juicy. 
Barrel #2 was similar to the first, but with stronger structure and balance. 
Barrel #3 had wonderful umami flavors. 
Barrel #4 had a strong backbone and fresh notes of cranberry and cherry. 
Barrel #5 was bold and spicy.

After mixing and tasting many blends, we decided on a combination of Barrels #2 (structure/balance), #4 (acidity/berry flavors), and #5 (spicy notes). It was a great experience that yielded a fantastic wine!

No comments: