Ryan Deovlet is currently making some of the top wines in Santa Barbara County. Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media certainly thinks so, he was the one who said this wine was "an absolute joy to taste." I concur!
A protege of Santa Rita Hills pioneer Richard Sanford, Deovlet's wines possess wonderful purity, transparency, and balance. Although this is his entry level bottling, there is nothing entry level about it. Just 350 cases were produced in the fantastic 2018 vintage, and we're offering this one up at one of the best prices in the country.
2018 Deovlet Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
"An absolute joy to tasting!" - 92 points Vinous Media
ORDER NOW in our online store. We will apply deal pricing once we receive your order.
Ryan Deovlet came to wine in a roundabout way. A former minor league baseball player, an arm injury ended his dream of playing in the major leagues. It was back to square one, and he found himself looking for new direction in life. Armed with four books (On the Road, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Rumi, and The Prophet) and his teenage memories of drinking great coffee with his cousin in Hawaii, Ryan headed to Australia to work in vineyards under the auspices of World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. The rest, as they say, is history. Ryan caught the wine bug, and there was no looking back.
He returned to California and worked for a number of prestigious estates, learning how to make wine the old fashioned way, on the job. He trained from 2005 to 2007 with winemaker Stephen Dooley before becoming the assistant winemaker at Red Car Winery, where he met consultant David Ramey and where he was further exposed to vineyard and soil experts. He went to a Pinot Noir conference and took to heart what Richard Sanford said on a panel discussion about the inspiration of Pinot Noir. He worked a harvest in Argentina at Vina Cobos with Paul Hobbs.
Upon returning to California in 2008, he knocked on Richard Sanford's door and asked this living legend if he might be able to buy some fruit. That took some serious courage as Mr. Sanford doesn't sell fruit to just anybody. But Sanford took a liking to this young and passionate Pinot Noir lover. That brings us up to speed on this wine. Sourced from the famed La Encantada, Sanford & Benedict, and Zotovich Family Vineyards, this is a fantastic bottle of wine.
I'll let Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media take us home. "The 2018 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County) is rich, pliant and so expressive. Sweet red cherry, red plum, cinnamon, cedar and new leather give the 2018 striking aromatic nuance. Medium in body and open-knit, with soft, silky contours, the 2018 is an absolute joy to taste. Drink 2020-2028. $40 suggested retail."
This is the first vintage Ryan's wines have been available in North Carolina, but it certainly won't be the last. Unfortunately, I've only got 48 bottles to offer. If you love stylish and attractive Central Coast Pinots, you've got to get this home and get some in your glass.
ORDER NOW in our online store. We will apply deal pricing once we receive your order.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville