96pts Decanter

Alluring candied cherry notes are scented with expressive cedarwood laced with fragrant cumin and flamed orange peel. A polished wine on entry with silky textured fruit so pure and so ripe and bright and perfectly expressive of black cherry, black plum, Red Delicious apple, and layers of baking spices. Satiny tannins glide up against a juicy acid profile, building to a finish of cocoa nib nuances and fresh garrigue notes. Juicy, structured, and delicious, it leaves one in a perpetual state of wanting for more. Aged 10 months in 49% new French oak, with a 3.76pH and 14.8% alcohol, the 2022 leads with a more savoury profile than the inaugural 2021 release (also a fabulous wine).

95pts Wine Enthusiast - Editor's Choice

Combining herbaceous elements with a richer frame, this is an exciting early release for this vineyard that straddles the western edge of the already cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills, where it's blasted directly by Pacific fog and winds. Aromas of brambleberry, seared rosemary and smoked herb lead from the nose into a savory palate of black pepper, clove, menthol and roasted mulberry.

94pts Vinous

The 2022 Pinot Noir Our Lady of Guadalupe is a hugely promising wine from Dave Phinney's new OLG Our Lady of Guadalupe label. Aromatic, deep and potent, the 2022 has so much going on. Crushed flowers, spice, plum, menthol and licorice all build in the glass. Hints of pomegranate, new leather and blood orange build into deep, resonant finish.

Winemaker's Notes

The 2022 OLG Pinot Noir pours a dark persimmon core with a lucid rose hip rim. Laden with elegant aromatics, notes of bright raspberry, bing cherry and Pinot funk develop into darker tones of black cherry, mocha and mahogany. On the palate, the entry is scrumptiously soft with cranberry crunch, ripe strawberry, redcurrant and a touch of maritozzo. Typical of the Sta. Rita Hills, the finish is lined with minerality and some saline hints with closing touches of fennel and anise.

About the Wine

Every year, we learn more about the intricacies of our special vineyard in the western - end of the Sta. Rita Hills. Coming off the heels of our successful inaugural vintage, the 2022 OLG Pinot Noir is a continuation of our quest to produce a wine that captures the Our Lady of Guadalupe vineyard, the vintage and the terroir it inhabits. Sandy loam and
diatomaceous earth soils and the constant barrage from coastal winds , force our vines to focus their energy on producing concentrated berries, exemplified by the low yields. In 2022, we incorporated more sections of our vineyard and two additional clones—the famous Swan and Calera clones—to achieve a higher degree of complexity in the resulting wine. And while we do 95% of our winemaking in the vineyard, we experimented in the cellar with different types of barrel toasts, forest origins and cooperages to see what pairs best with each clone, furthering our goal o f complexity. The result is a Pinot Noir that is nuanced yet rich, thought-provoking and multi-layered yet unabashedly Dave Phinney and, of course, downright enjoyable.

About the Winery

In the summer of 2021, Dave Phinney decided to produce his own wine from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard, giving him complete control in the vineyard and cellar. Simply put, this is the only project in the United States where Dave makes wine from a vineyard he owns. 

Our team works together to grow and harvest fruit in the western-most section of the famed Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Gentle winemaking techniques, a complementary barrel program and a focus on blending Pinot Noir clones, are our guiding principles to bring the vineyard to you.

Winemaker: Dave Phinney

Assistant Winemaker: Chris Hussey

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard