La Encantada 777 Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2028
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted salmon.
✨ Technical Specifications
The La Encantada Vineyard, whose name translates to 'The Enchanted,' is a legendary site in the cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County, originally planted by the pioneering vintner Richard Sanford. This vineyard is highly regarded for its unique terroir, characterized by nutrient-poor, diatomaceous soils and a direct exposure to the chilly marine winds and fog sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean. This extreme climate results in an exceptionally long growing season. Dominion Tantara's bottling focuses specifically on the Dijon 777 clone, renowned for producing small, concentrated berries that yield deep color, velvety tannins, and complex aromatic profiles of dark cherry, plum, and earthy undertones. The winemaking philosophy emphasizes traditional French techniques, utilizing careful oak aging to complement the natural structure and vibrant acidity of this coastal Pinot Noir.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1997 by Virginia natives Bill Cates and Jeff Fink, Dominion Tantara (originally founded as Tantara Winery) was born from a mutual passion for cool-climate Burgundian varieties. Operating out of the historic Rancho Tepusquet within Santa Maria Valley's celebrated Bien Nacido Vineyard, the winery sources fruit from elite Central Coast terroirs, including Dierberg, Talley Rincon, Zotovich, and old-vine blocks of Bien Nacido. Benefiting from east-west transverse maritime corridors that funnel morning fog and cool Pacific winds across benchland sandy-loam soils, the estate emphasizes long hang-times with natural acidity preservation. Viticultural practices focus on sustainable management with meticulous canopy care. Cellar vinification embraces low-intervention Burgundian traditions: selective whole-cluster fermentations, native yeasts, and aging in fine-grained French oak barriques. Benchmark bottlings include single-vineyard expressions such as Bien Nacido Vineyard O Block Chardonnay, Zotovich Vineyard Chardonnay, and Dierberg Vineyard Pinot Noir, prized for their tension, crystalline minerality, and savory aromatic depth.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir