Producer | Tatomer |
Country | United States |
Region | California |
Subregion | Santa Barbara |
Varietal | Pinot Noir |
Vintage | 2020 |
Sku | 37592 |
Size | 750ml |
Graham Tatomer, the founder of Tatomer Winery, has been dedicated to crafting exceptional Riesling and Grüner Veltliner wines in Santa Barbara County, California, since 2008. Despite the region's focus on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, Tatomer has sought out the oldest Riesling plantings in the area, including those at Lafond Vineyard (1973) and Sisquoc Vineyard. Tatomer's passion for these varietals led him to the Wachau region of Austria, where he found mentorship and a second family with the Knolls at Weingut Knoll. This experience, combined with his work alongside Adam Tolmach of Ojai Vineyard, has shaped Tatomer's winemaking philosophy, resulting in wines that showcase the unique soils and climate of Santa Barbara while maintaining an Austrian pedigree. Tatomer's meticulous approach, including multiple passes at harvest and rigorous sorting, ensures the purity and singularity of his bottlings, which also include small quantities of delicate Pinot Noir.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Kick-on Ranch is so elegant and sophisticated. Crushed red berry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and a good dose of whole cluster savoriness lend aromatic brilliance to this gracious, mid-weight Pinot from Graham Tatomer.
I was blown away by the wines I tasted with Grahama Tatomer this year. Tatomer has thoughtfully expanded his range over the last few years. At the same time, he has become more selective about what goes into the vineyard designate whites, choosing to use the rest for his entry-level Hinter der Mauer, which is easily one of the very finest values in all of Santa Barbara. Tatomer has acquired a reputation as a Riesling specialist in California, indeed he is one of the variety’s foremost exponents, but he is every bit as skilled with Pinot Noir. These new releases are superb across the board.