2021 Déjà Vu
Pinot Noir
94 points - Wine Enthusiast
94 points - Jeb Dunnuck
93 points - Vinous
"A dark hue in the glass, this intensely aromatic Pinot Noir hits the nose with inky black cherry and blackberry scents that are amplified by purple flowers and loamy soils. It's thick and hefty on the creamy palate, sure to please those seeking powerful flavors of blackberry, licorice and cardamom. A boost of acid enlivens the finish." — Matt Kettmann
"The 2021 Déjà Vu is packed with super-ripe dark fruit, leather, tocacco, incense and chocolate. This deep, opulent Pinot shows all the richness in both texture and flavor profile that is typical of wines from the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills. In this vintage, the Déjà Vu emerges from one of the blocks on the back side of the property." — Antonio Galloni
This is our first Déjà vu bottling from a spectacular block of clone 777 Pinot that grows at the impeccably farmed, John Sebastiano Vineyard. My Déjà vu moniker for great single-vineyard Pinot is all about the mystery behind various vineyards, when/where upon my entering them for the first time, I felt like I was having a Déjà vu. As of this writing, the wine is a bit tight upon being poured into a glass.
At the same time, it has so much beautiful stuffing that it just can’t help but exude heady aromas of earth and grilled fruits. If you are patient enough to let it get a little bit of air, all kinds of sweet complexities start to climb out. Its dark lusciousness is sewn tightly together with a burgeoning acidity and perfectly toasted oak tannins, that ride the succulence long into the finish.
It’s everything you could want from the world’s sexiest grape variety. This is why the Sta. Rita Hills is a “thing”, because we make these kinds of Pinots. This wine will age well and evolve nicely over the next 20 years. If you drink it young, pair it with something robust foodwise, including proteins. This is a full throttle Pinot and will pair well the kinds of food you would pair with Syrah or Cabernet. If you can lay it down for 5 years, I guarantee it will start to sing.