Babcock Radical Pinot Noir 2013
Another installment of my recent trip to CA to visit my daughter to celebrate her birthday. We wanted to taste some great wines that cannot readily be obtained back east, so we visited Babcock Winery in Santa Barbara. Babcock Winery and Vineyards was established in 1978 when Mona and Walter Babcock purchased a 110 acre property on Highway 246 between Lompoc and Buellton in the western Santa Ynez Valley. At the time, the Babcocks were in the restaurant business, as they are to this day, being the proprietors of the legendary Walt’s Wharf in Seal Beach California. At the time of establishing the vineyard, he was also a dentist and a commercial fisherman. Shortly after the purchase of their property, the Babcocks planted a modest 20 acres to such varieties as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. In 1983, after building a small garage and purchasing a few wine barrels, they took a whack at their first experimental vintage. That year, they also delivered small batches of fruit to a few of the more notable winemakers in the area. While Rick Longoria and Fred Brander made compelling Sauvignon Blancs, Jim Clendenen at Au Bon Climat produced a stunning Chardonnay.
One of the wines we tasted was their Radical Pinot Noir which comes from a small hillside that lies in the heart of the Radian Vineyard, owned by grower Jonata Winery. Ruby red with purple tones and aromas of ripe fruits and complex spice. On the palate concentrated flavors of raspberry and cherry infused with dried aromatic herbs and fine tannins. The finish had a touch of smoky tones and lingered through the ending. Very Nice, small production. Tasting Sample.
Cheers!