Today we head further south in to Santa Barbara County to look at some Pinot. The first Pinot we will discuss is The Hitching Post 2006 Highliner Pinot Noir. But before we go into the wine let briefly discuss The Hitching Post II and its claim to fame.
The Restaurant the Hitching Post II was popularized by the film Sideways. The feeling I got from the film was that The Hitching Post II was a wine lover's destination, however, it is quite the opposite. It's a very quaint family style restaurant, who's actual claim to fame is not so much their wines, but their B-B-Q and let me tell you their B-B-Q it GOOD! So good, the wine took a back seat...Actually, I think the wine was in the trunk. The place is so popular with the local that the line up was out the door... Our meal was fantastic, the NY Strip that was cooked to perfection and seasoned with their our spacial spices they call "magic Dust." I think it's mostly salt and garlic powder, but it worked magic on the steak! The rest of the meal was pretty standard, and the service was excellent.. Okay..Now for the wine.
Joining the Cult - 2006 Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir - The Hitching Post wines are not so much Cult wines in terms of their quality and prices, they've receive their cult status by the film Sideways. The first wine we tried was the 2006 Highliner Pinot Noir. This is their top end offering and was the most concentrated and age worthy. The wine is a blend of Pinot from several of the more prominant Santa Barbara vineyards such as Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict to name a couple. The wine was a dark garnet colour with light fuit, earthy aromas with a touch of Oak. On the pallet the wine was a bit astringent, the tannin's were firm and not as well rounded as I would have expected from their top wine. The wine also lacked complexity showing light fuit flavour and prominant Oak. Perhaps it will provide more complxity with age. 84 points.
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