Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2023

Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2023 is a 750ml, 14.3% ABV estate-grown Pinot Noir from the Santa Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County. The Southing bottling has earned 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and has been named among Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year, placing it among California's most recognized Pinot Noirs.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.3%  |  Origin: Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California  |  Vintage: 2023  |  Winery: Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard

Production & Heritage

Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard sits on south-facing slopes with shallow clay soils in the western reaches of the Santa Ynez Valley. Each evening, a blanket of marine fog — the "sea smoke" for which the estate is named — rolls up the Santa Ynez River canyon, cooling the vines and allowing an extended hangtime that lets flavors and tannins mature while preserving bright acidity. The 2023 Southing is 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir, fermented with native yeasts under a minimal-intervention philosophy, then aged for 16 months in French oak barrels with approximately 55% new wood.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh strawberry and Rainier cherry lead into rose petal and pomegranate, with subtle baking spice — clove and nutmeg — emerging as the wine opens. A thread of minerality and delicate floral notes adds complexity beneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is concentrated and bright, with blueberry and wild berry surging across the mid-palate alongside macerated blackberry and black cherry. Lively cool-climate acidity frames the fruit, and fine-grained tannins build steadily toward a layered peak of dark raspberry and light plum. Muted vanilla from the French oak integrates without overtaking the fruit purity.

Finish: Medium-long and textured, with lingering pomegranate acidity and a mineral undertone that recalls the estate's clay soils. Tannins taper gracefully, leaving a clean impression of red and dark berry fruit.

How to Drink Southing

This wine is best served at 58–62°F in a large-bowled Burgundy glass; decanting for 30 minutes helps the aromatics fully unfold. Southing rewards careful attention and is built primarily for drinking neat, though it brings real depth to wine-forward cocktails. A Pinot Noir Sangria with fresh berries and citrus plays to the wine's fruit-driven character. A New York Sour — bourbon shaken with lemon and a Southing float — gains complexity from the wine's acidity and tannin structure. A simple Kir variation using a small measure of crème de cassis amplifies the dark berry notes already present in the glass.

Best For

• Gifting a Pinot Noir enthusiast who appreciates cool-climate California expressions
• Anchoring a comparative tasting of Santa Rita Hills estate wines
• Pairing with a special dinner featuring roasted duck or braised lamb
• Cellaring short-term (3–7 years) to develop additional secondary complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Southing taste like? Southing delivers concentrated blueberry, black cherry, and wild berry fruit balanced by bright acidity and fine tannins. Baking spice, rose petal, and a cool-climate mineral streak add depth without masking the estate-grown fruit.

How does Southing compare to Sea Smoke Ten? Sea Smoke Ten is a multi-clone blend named for the 10 Pinot Noir clones used in its production; it tends to be a bigger, bolder expression than Southing and typically commands a higher price point. Southing is the estate's flagship bottling, leaning toward elegance and site-specific cool-climate character rather than sheer concentration.

Is Southing good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is an estate wine built for attentive, unhurried drinking. Its layered aromatics, structured tannins, and persistent acidity reward a slow glass, especially after a brief decant.

Where is Southing made? Southing is produced entirely from estate-grown fruit at Sea Smoke Estate Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills AVA, a cool-climate appellation within Santa Barbara County, California. The vineyard's south-facing slopes and nightly marine fog create ideal conditions for Pinot Noir.

What foods pair well with Southing? Roasted duck breast with cherry reduction mirrors the wine's dark fruit and spice. Herb-crusted rack of lamb complements the fine tannins. Mushroom risotto with truffle oil echoes the earthy mineral notes. Seared ahi tuna with a berry gastrique bridges the wine's acidity and fruit. Aged Gruyère highlights the subtle vanilla and spice from French oak aging.

What sizes does Southing come in? Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Southing worth the price? Southing positions as a premium estate Pinot Noir and is priced accordingly among top-tier Santa Rita Hills producers. Its 100% estate fruit, native-yeast fermentation, 16-month French oak aging program, and consistent critical recognition at the 95-point level justify its standing in the upper echelon of California Pinot Noir.

Why Southing?

What separates Southing from much of the California Pinot Noir field is site specificity — every grape comes from a single estate whose shallow clay soils and nightly fog corridor produce a wine that balances intensity with restraint. Native-yeast fermentation and minimal intervention preserve that terroir signal rather than obscuring it behind winemaking technique. Consistent 95-point critical recognition and inclusion in Wine Spectator's Top 100 confirm the bottling's year-over-year quality. For anyone serious about cool-climate Pinot Noir, Southing stands as one of the clearest expressions of what Santa Rita Hills can achieve.