Introduction
L’Usine Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2018 is a compelling testament to the singular potential of the Santa Rita Hills AVA, a cool-climate region within Santa Barbara County, California, celebrated for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. “L’Usine,” meaning “the factory” in French, is a project of Ovid winemaker Austin Peterson, who, alongside a small team, applies a meticulous, hands-on approach to crafting limited-production, terroir-driven wines. This particular Pinot Noir highlights the region’s unique maritime influence, which allows the fickle Pinot Noir grape to achieve both ripeness and vibrant acidity. The 2018 vintage in Santa Barbara County was generally excellent, offering balanced ripeness and concentration, positioning this L’Usine Pinot Noir as a sophisticated and elegant expression of its distinguished origin.
Character Description
The L’Usine Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2018 displays a brilliant, translucent ruby-red hue, characteristic of a finely crafted Pinot Noir. It offers an intensely aromatic and captivating bouquet of fresh red berries—wild strawberry, red cherry, and cranberry—elegantly interwoven with nuanced notes of forest floor, a hint of dried rose petals, subtle baking spices, and a delicate mineral undertone. On the palate, it delivers a medium-bodied and beautifully silky texture, with vibrant red fruit flavors mirroring the nose. It’s supported by fine-grained, integrated tannins that provide structure and a long, graceful finish, balanced by a bright, refreshing acidity that ensures liveliness and remarkable precision. The finish is persistent, clean, and exceptionally elegant, leaving a lingering impression of pure fruit and refined earthiness.
Perfect Pairings
This versatile and elegant Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir is an exceptional partner for a wide range of light to medium-bodied dishes. It pairs beautifully with roasted chicken or duck, pan-seared salmon, mushroom risottos, or pork tenderloin with berry compote. Its earthy nuances and vibrant acidity also make it an ideal accompaniment to charcuterie boards with mild cheeses, roasted root vegetables, or lighter game birds like quail. The wine’s approachable yet sophisticated profile makes it a fantastic choice for a casual dinner, a refined gathering, or for those who appreciate the expressive charm and subtle power of a cool-climate California Pinot Noir. Decanting for 30 minutes can further enhance its aromatic profile.
About the Winery
L’Usine (meaning “the factory”) is a micro-production project initiated by winemaker Austin Peterson, best known for his work at the prestigious Ovid Napa Valley. With L’Usine, Peterson applies his precise and minimalist winemaking philosophy to small, exceptional vineyards, primarily focusing on Pinot Noir from renowned cool-climate regions like Santa Rita Hills. The “factory” name is an ironic nod to their artisanal, hands-on approach rather than mass production, emphasizing a meticulous attention to detail from vine to bottle. L’Usine’s commitment is to produce limited quantities of highly expressive, terroir-driven wines that showcase the purity of the fruit and the distinct characteristics of their chosen sites, reflecting a passion for crafting wines of true individuality and elegance.
