2003 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten- USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills (3/18/2021)
Cellared since release…bitter sweet ending as this is my last bottle of Sea Smoke in the cellar, of which I use to purchase and enjoy as a list member since the 2001’s. Moved on from the list in 2006 to explore other wines…probably that Burgundy black hole sucking me in! Well, this 2003 SS10 has a nice deep dark plum color…nose of stewed cherry, plum, currants, tomato vine…really intriguing sassafras, bbq meat spice. The fruit and body is still pretty inky and syrah-like, yet there is some translucent red cherry, showing some finesse in that beast! Full flavored liqueured berry fruits still sweet…age showing some sous bois, old leather, dried leaves…that wonderful candied florals spice still kickin it in this wine…sandalwood, white pepper, smoked cherry wood, red licorice…air is really starting to balance it out nicely…creaming it up and integrating that initial stewed fruit with all the florals, spice, and dryness…one thing I don’t see is heat…which shows how well balanced this wine is for a 2003. Plenty perky sour skin acidity in this as well…adds a nice lift to the richness. Tell you what…I initially thought I was going to pan this wine…not a fan a stewed fruit and anything with tomatoes in it…but this wine has really come together like a champ…and I’m really enjoying it! Brings me back to that time when I was googoo gaga over these ooozemonster Pinots…which still has a small corner table reserved close to my heart and taste buds! So long good friend…it’s been fun! (93 pts.)
Have enjoyed a later set of vintages of these, but also dropped from list as shipping+taxes made it a tough nut to swallow. I do like their wines though.
My first Sea Smoke(s) were the 2005 vintage. I wish I would have saved a couple. Sea Smoke was my first mailing list wine. It broke my heart when I moved on. Tastes change.
Very fond memories of Sea Smoke. My friend brought an 03 southing to my house after release for a diner. He purchased it at a Bristol Farms on a recommendation from the kid working there.
I was like “WTF is this”?
I was fortunate enough to taste the first botella vintage, 2001, at a Cellertracker event. I asked “who brought this and where did you get it? I love this wine”
Many of you in SoCal know Poppy who modesty said “I brought it”.
I still have 02-05 Southings left. Keep meaning to open them - I expect they’ll be quite good at this age.
I need to get someone like Viet or Brig to share them with me — someone who won’t just oppose the style or label per se. Which isn’t to say such person needs to like the wines, just that they’re open minded about it going in.
I bought a few Southing and Ten in my very early days of wine collecting. They’re far from my preferred style, as I know now, but opening them around the 15 year mark, they’ve evolved surprisingly well.
On the rare occasions I have had Sea Smoke PNs (I don’t think I ever had the 2003), provided usually by a friend, I have really liked them, but I consider the price a problem. One can get other PNs from the area that are almost as good (to my palate) for much less. RTPL
