The 2018 Deovlet Pinot Noir hails from the legendary Sanford & Benedict Vineyard which represents the pinnacle of California Pinot Noir. Hailing from a vineyard many critics describe as a “California Grand Cru site” and arguably the crown jewel of the Central Coast. This wine combines rare vineyard pedigree, meticulous farming, and the extraordinary winemaking talent of Ryan Deovlet, a six-time Wine & Spirits Top 100 Winery of the World honoree.

Sanford & Benedict, planted in 1971 by pioneers Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict, was the first modern commercial Pinot Noir vineyard in Santa Barbara County and helped establish the region as a premier destination for world-class Pinot. With old, own-rooted vines, extremely low yields, and ideal Sta. Rita Hills maritime climate, it produces Pinot Noir of concentration, nuance, and age-worthy structure. The vineyard’s sandy loam, marine sediments, chalky limestone pockets, and gravely soils give the wine a mineral-driven backbone, while the east–west orientation ensures balanced ripeness and bright acidity.

Winemaker Ryan Deovlet, who trained across Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and California, has built his reputation on crafting precise, terroir-driven wines. The 2018 library release from Sanford & Benedict is a micro-production masterpiece, with fewer than 200 cases, showcasing elegance, transparency to site, and the kind of structured, age-worthy Pinot Noir that earns comparisons to Burgundy’s Volnay, Pommard, and Clos des Lambrays. As Antonio Galloni of Vinous notes, “Ryan Deovlet is one of the most exciting young winemakers in the Central Coast… His wines, which emerge from some of the top sites in Santa Barbara, are impeccable, pure and wonderfully transparent to site.”

Why You’ll Love It

• Grand Cru-level vineyard: Sanford & Benedict is widely regarded as California’s benchmark Pinot Noir vineyard, producing wines of finesse, minerality, and longevity akin to Burgundy’s finest.

• Flagship Deovlet wine: This release represents Ryan Deovlet’s premier bottling, sourced from one of the most coveted vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills.

• Micro-production, collectible: Fewer than 200 cases, with meticulous attention to every detail from vine to bottle.

• 2018 library release: Part of the winery’s select library of older vintages, with only a handful of bottles remaining from this exceptional 2018 vintage, making it both rare and ready to enjoy now or cellar for further aging.

How to Serve It

• Decant 30–60 minutes to let its complex aromatics unfold—red cherry, wild strawberry, rose petal, and subtle earthy notes.

• Serve at 58–62°F in Burgundy stems to appreciate its structure, freshness, and delicate bouquet.

• Food pairings: Roast duck, game birds, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses; a perfect match for dishes that highlight elegance over power.

Critical Acclaim:

96+ Points, Wine Advocate:

"Medium ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard opens slowly to alluring raspberry jam and pomegranate with accents of forest floor, bergamot, tar and potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied and harmonious, its grainy tannins and energetic acidity supporting a concentrated yet detailed core of perfumed fruit, and it boasts a very long, layered finish. Wow! It feels extraordinarily youthful and could use another 2-3+ years to unwind in bottle."

96 Points, Vinous Media:

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is another absolutely stunning wine in this range. Rich, sumptuous and explosive, the S&B simply has it all. Ripe dark red/purplish fruit, lavender and spice scream out of the glass. The depth, power and concentration here are just unreal."