Alcohol: 13.5%
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Location: Radian Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Santa Barbara County, California
Tasting Notes: This Pinot Noir opens with a captivating bouquet of mulled black cherries, scorched earth, toasted spice, and savory herbs. On the palate, it reveals vibrant layers of tart lemon peel, baked apple, and almond, finishing with a delicate touch of lemon verbena. The wine’s medium to full body is supported by integrated acidity, ripe tannins, and a distinctive chalky minerality, offering both elegance and depth.
Notes: Radian Vineyard is known for its steep, wind-battered slopes and diatomaceous earth soils. The vines produce tiny, concentrated clusters with thick skins, contributing to firm tannins and deep flavor. Aged 15 months on lees in neutral French oak barriques; bottled without filtration. Benefits from 2–3 years of bottle aging and has a projected lifespan of 15+ years.
Food pairing: This Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes, including herb-crusted duck breast, which complements its earthy and savory notes. Mushroom risotto enhances the wine’s umami character, while grilled salmon with miso glaze brings out its subtle acidity and fruit tones. For a refined finish, aged cheeses like Gruyère or Comté offer a nutty richness that harmonizes with the wine’s depth and texture.
Winery Story: Brothers John and Steve Dragonette and close friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis founded Dragonette Cellars in 2005 after having worked together at a renowned wine shop in Los Angeles. Their shared passion for great wine brought them to wild, windy and remote northern Santa Barbara County where they spent the next several years seeking out extraordinary, cool-climate vineyards and dedicating themselves to careful, patient, minimalist winemaking.
As vignerons, they have committed themselves, above all else, to the mindful farming of precise blocks in exceptional vineyards for low yields and high quality and to the shepherding of these grapes into wines of purity, complexity and balance. Given the remarkable climatic and soil diversity in Santa Barbara County, Dragonette Cellars produces small lots of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah of interest and distinction.
