Sea Smoke 2023 Ten Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Sea Smoke 2023 Ten Pinot Noir – Sta. Rita Hills, California
94 Points Vinous
The Sea Smoke 2023 Ten Pinot Noir is a powerful, beautifully structured estate-grown Pinot Noir from the prestigious Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County, California. Crafted from ten distinct Pinot Noir clones grown at the acclaimed Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard, this exceptional wine showcases the richness, intensity and distinctive cool-climate character that have made Sea Smoke one of California's most sought-after Pinot Noir producers.
The outstanding 2023 vintage opens with captivating aromas of dark blueberry, black cherry, cassis, lavender, thyme and sweet licorice, complemented by subtle notes of hazelnut and savory spice. The palate is rich and beautifully concentrated, delivering layers of dark plum, wild berry compote, cocoa and earthy minerality. Firm, mature tannins and vibrant acidity provide impressive structure and aging potential, while a long, velvety finish reveals lingering spice, graphite and delicately integrated oak.
Crafted from 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir, the wine undergoes meticulous sorting, gentle destemming and fermentation in open-top tanks, followed by extended maceration. Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, the wine develops remarkable depth, complexity and refined texture. Compared with Sea Smoke's elegant Southing bottling, Ten offers a darker, more powerful and structured expression of the estate's exceptional terroir.
Wine Details
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Producer: Sea Smoke
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Vintage: 2023
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Wine: Ten Pinot Noir
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Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills AVA
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Region: Santa Barbara County, California
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Vineyard: Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard
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Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
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Vineyard Composition: Ten Pinot Noir clones
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Aging: 16 months in French oak barrels
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Fermentation: Open-top fermenters with extended maceration
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Style: Powerful, rich, structured and velvety
Tasting Notes: Dark blueberry, cassis, black cherry, dark plum, lavender, thyme, sweet licorice, cocoa and savory spice. Rich and concentrated with firm tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, velvety finish.
Food Pairing: Excellent with herb-crusted rack of lamb, duck confit, prime rib, braised short ribs, wild mushroom ragout and aged Gruyère or Comté.
Cellaring: Enjoy now with 60–90 minutes of decanting to reveal its layered fruit and savory complexity, or cellar under proper conditions. A suggested drinking window of 2026–2036 and potentially beyond reflects its structured, age-worthy style.
Vinous praised the 2023 Ten for its dark berry concentration, brambly raspberry, dark cherry, lavender and vibrant rhubarb acidity. The review highlights how the freshness of the 2023 vintage balances the wine's generous French oak influence.
Additional Verified Wine Details
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Aging: 16 months in French oak barrels, 56% new
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Alcohol: 14.6% ABV
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Winemaking: Five-day cold soak, 16–28 days of maceration, bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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