California Pinot Noir at its best comes from cold Pacific air and long, slow ripening — and the four bottles in this guide are all in stock at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California: a $19.99 Santa Lucia Highlands reserve, a historic 2014 Sonoma estate wine at $89.99, and the two cult Sta. Rita Hills bottlings from Sea Smoke at $119.99 and $129.99. Each is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Three Coastlines, One Grape
Pinot Noir is thin-skinned and honest about where it grew, which is why this ladder is a tour of California's cool corridors: the Santa Lucia Highlands above Monterey, where afternoon winds pour off the bay; Sonoma Valley, home to some of the oldest Pinot vines in the Western Hemisphere; and the Sta. Rita Hills, where the transverse valley funnels cold ocean air straight onto Sea Smoke's exposed hillsides. Browse the wider shelf in our red wine collection and wine collection.
The Bottles in Stock
- Estancia Reserve Stonewall Vineyard Pinot Noir — $19.99. A Reserve, single-vineyard bottling from Stonewall Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County, per the bottle's own front label — the everyday end of this guide and an easy first step into Highlands Pinot.
- Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2014 — $89.99. Estate-grown Sonoma Valley fruit from the de Brye, Sessions and Ambassador's 1953 vineyards — among the oldest continually producing Pinot Noir vines in the Western Hemisphere. Five-day cold soak, 10% whole cluster, 18 months in French oak (63% new). Drinking now and built to cellar.
- Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2023 — $119.99. Named for the estate's south-facing hillside blocks in the Sta. Rita Hills, Southing is the more approachable and elegant of Sea Smoke's two Pinots — the winery calls it the ideal marriage of complexity and elegance. The estate has been certified organic and biodynamic since 2013.
- Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir 2023 — $129.99. The flagship, named for the ten Pinot Noir clones grown on the estate. Brooding and intense — the winery's own copy says it converts even the most fanatic Cabernet lover.
Southing or Ten — and What to Pour Them With
Southing is the bottle to open tonight with salmon, duck or mushroom risotto; Ten is the cellar bottle and the steak-night Pinot, structured enough for grilled lamb. The Hanzell 2014, with a decade of age already on it, is the dinner-party story of the four. Cabernet drinkers comparing styles should see our Napa Cabernet guide, and Old World palates our Italian red wine guide. Ordering questions are answered on our FAQs page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Sea Smoke Southing and Ten?
Southing, from Sea Smoke's south-facing blocks in the Sta. Rita Hills, is the more approachable and elegant bottling at $119.99. Ten, named for the estate's ten Pinot Noir clones, is the flagship at $129.99 — brooding, intense and built for cellaring.
Why is California Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills special?
The Sta. Rita Hills' transverse valley funnels cold Pacific air over the vineyards, stretching the ripening season. Sea Smoke's estate there has been certified organic and biodynamic since 2013, and the style is concentrated yet fresh.
Is the Hanzell 2014 ready to drink?
Yes — the Hanzell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2014 is drinking now and built to cellar. It is estate-grown Sonoma Valley fruit, including vines planted in 1953, aged 18 months in French oak.
Where can I buy Sea Smoke Pinot Noir online?
Sea Smoke Southing 2023 ($119.99) and Sea Smoke Ten 2023 ($129.99) are in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, California.