Get Sideways at World of Pinot Noir with a Dusty Nabor PN from SB’s Sta Rita Hills AVA

Tercero Winemaker Larry’s pinot noir immersion– JK

Get Sideways at World of Pinot Noir with PN from SB’s Sta Rita Hills AVA

 
Keep reading to learn about two 2022 Dusty Nabors Pinot Noir, with one from Radian Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills and the other from Bentrock Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills paired with duck breast. At under 1000 cases, Dusty Nabor will be one of the smaller producers at World of Pinot Noir which kicks off Thurs. Feb. 29 with pinot, bubbles, and dancing. While most of the wine poured at WOPN are from the US, with plenty from nearby, last year it was fun to taste Pinot Noir from Australia, and they’ll be back; definitely worth checking out Pinot from AUS whether at WOPN or on your own. This year the German Wine Collective will also pour, plus you’ll find individual wineries from various countries and California counties.  See all the events here.

From Australia, standout organic Mayer Pinot Noir at WOPN 2023; stay tuned for an April article on Wine Predator about their Chardonnay and their Nebbiolo which I tasted recently during a seminar with David Glancy

Friday March 1:

• 2 seminars
  — one on CA pinot moderated by the always entertaining and educational David Glancy which should be stellar if it’s anything like the many many seminars I’ve had with Glancy including this Burgundy one at WOPN 
• 2 luncheons 
• 2 dinners 
• Here’s the list of wineries pouring at the WOPN Grand Tasting. Be sure to go see Dusty if you’re there Friday!  

Larry winemaker at Tercero will pour his pinot noir Sat. 3/2 at #WOPN; this busy also poured at Garagiste and Rhone Rangers

Saturday March 2:

• 2 seminars: “Bubbles and Bites” sounds yummy and “Blind Tasting” of Pinot from around the world sounds so fun! 
• 2 lunches 
• 2 dinners–one focused on Willamette Valley, the other on Burgundy 
• Here’s the list of the wineries pouring at Saturday’s Grand Tasting. Say hi to Larry– he’s pouring his tercero wines from the Kessler-Haak vineyard on Saturday.

Dusty Nabor pours his wine in 2023 at Gargagiste where he also poured in 2024 and Rhone Rangers also

Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir from Dusty Nabor

• 2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills
• 2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Bentrock Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills
• These wines will be released on March 1 — just in time for World of Pinot Noir! 

These vineyards are very special for a few reasons, says Dusty in response to a few questions from me via email. First and foremost is the proximity to the ocean and exposure to ocean breezes as they are two of the most westerly vineyards in the SRH. “They are very exposed and windswept,” says Dusty, “Radian more so than Bentrock. And soil. The diatomaceous earth and volcanic soils make those two vineyards very special.”  Both vineyards are conventionally farmed by Coastal Vineyard Care Associates under the direction of Matt Dees; they are the Hilt’s estate vineyards. 

Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir from Dusty Nabor paired with duck breast

Menu for Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir  

• Charcuterie: 
  Mousse de Foie de Canard au Porto Pate, St Andre Brie, Comte, Fig and olive crisps
• Roasted Kiri Squash Salad with spiced pecans, fried diced ham, Comte, spring greens 
• Roast Duck Breast with blackberry sauce made with Lustau sherry 

2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills

2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills 

ABV: 13%
SRP: $65
Grapes: Pinot Noir

Appearance:  Plum, ruby rim, light density, lots of violet, very youthful, very pretty.

Aroma: Raspberry twizzlers,  fresh bing cherry,  Root beer, Earthen, pine forest, redwood forest, loam, chipped redwood, rhubarb, eucalyptus, menthol, sage,  nice clean smooth finish, 

Palate: Tart bright fresh fruit while still being quite smooth, raspberry, root beer, earthen, clean minerals, black current tea, 

Pairing: There is nothing like pairing Pinot and pate. This is no different as the spices in the pate marry perfectly with the beautiful fruit in the wine. Nutty Comte cheese is also a perfect match for the wine as the nutty cheese is enhanced by the wine and the fruit in the wine enhanced by the cheese. The St. Andre brie makes the wine so fruity and luscious as the wine cuts through and speaks to the rich cheese. Pinot and Pig is a thing: the ham on the squash salad highlights the wine so nicely, the wine loves the rich flavorful squash and the moroccan spices; there is richness and density and an array of so many luscious flavors in this salad that go so well with the wine. When a little bit of the berry compote spills over into the salad, it further enhances the meal. Duck and Pinot is even more decadent as having Pig and Pinot. What a great wine for this great meal.

2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Bentrock Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills

2022 Dusty Nabor Pinot Noir, Bentrock Vineyard, Sta Rita Hills

ABV: 13%
SRP: $65
Grapes: Pinot Noir

Appearance:  Light bodied, ruby, raspberry rim. 

Aroma: Sandlewood, raspberry, cherry, more cherry, rich, church spices, incense cedar.

Palate: Light bodied, tart fresh raspberry, wild strawberry, silt, clay, minerals, texturally very pleasing, oxalis, rose geranium, rose potpourri, present yet mild tannins, toast, buttered toast with jam. 

Pairing: Very nice with the Comte cheese both together are clean and fresh, fantastic with the rich pate and creamy St. Andre, if you are serving a cheese plate with pinot noir you really do not need anything else on your cheese plate other than pate, a high quality triple cream brie, as well as a fresh warmed baguette, the rind of the St Andre also adds to the pleasurability of the pairing, When Sue has a simple cheese plate that is as great with the wine as this is She doesn’t even care if the main dish comes along. This rich hearty winter squash salad and the duck are in itself a perfect meal and then when paired with this fabulous Pinot Noir, the experience is that much more pleasurable.

• March 16th head to Camarillo, CA for a rare opportunity to step inside Dusty Nabor Wines winery and taste current releases plus sample six other brands made in the same winery: Bolt To Wines, NSO Wines, Fuil Wines, Sequence Wines, Spearance Wines and Drama Wines.  A taco vendor will also be on site. The event is free; please RSVP. All wines will be available for purchase at the event (subject to availability).
  
  
• Want to know what’s up at Dusty Nabor and have access to wines? Dusty says joining the mailing list is the best way to stay up to date on releases. 
  
  
• Heading back toward Los Angeles and looking for places to taste on Sunday after World of Pinot Noir? I encourage you to cruise up Highway 33 to The Ojai Vineyard tasting room in downtown Ojai. Adam Tolmach is one of the original winemakers in Santa Barbara and his Pinot noir is superlative. He recently purchased a small vineyard in Sta Rita Hills “Fe Ciega” where he grows pinot noir.
  
  
• As the last Saturday in February is Open That Bottle Night, thinking about The Ojai Vineyard’s pinot noir reminds me of this tasting of older vintages of Adam’s wines. Last year for Open That Bottle Night, we camped at the beach and poured a 2009 Syrah from The Ojai Vineyard.

If you go, enjoy! While I originally planned on attending, we’re going skiing at Mammoth instead!