I'll Drink to That! #240: Rajat Parr
2012 Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir inspired by Foillard, Pacalet or Lapierre... That's how Rajat Parr describes the style of Pinot he's trying to make at Sandhi.
In his recent I'll Drink to That! interview, he says that what he and winemaker, Sashi Moorman, are looking for is light extraction, bright, lifted flavors and a quaffable style of Pinot using whole clusters. Without a doubt, these are unique Pinot Noirs with an obvious focus on transparency, balance and delicacy.
Singling out one bottle from the Sandhi and Domaine de la Côte projects isn't easy. Everything is eye-opening and simply impressive. In the end, we focused on the 2012 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir for its immediacy, its value and for how clearly it represents what animates Rajat Parr's sensibilities.
Today, we're happy to offer Sandhi's 2012 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir at special pricing for I'll Drink to That! listeners. The regular price is $36.95, but we've discounted it to $31.95 for listeners of the podcast.
To receive the special pricing, please use the IDTTFORME promotion code.You can purchase online, over the phone or by replying to this email.
Rajat Parr started his career in San Francisco during a period when California wines and Bordeaux were very much the norm. In contrast, Parr looked towards Burgundy and then the Northern Rhône. When it came to making California wine, it was these Old World wines that oriented Parr's endeavor. In the interview, Parr tells that he got involved in winemaking because he wanted to try to figure out if it was possible to use stems in California Syrah.
What becomes clear listening to the podcast is that this wasn't simply an effort of applying Old World winemaking techniques, but that the effort hastened an exploration of the vineyards, a deeper understanding of terroir and a fresh look at what California can produce. If anything, pursuing this aesthetic created even more questions rather than just affirming the benefits of those principles. This lead to the unending process of experimentation and constant and humble study. That's exactly what makes Sandhi so fascinating.
Of course, the wines have to deliver. And there's no doubt that they do. We offered the second vintage of the Santa Rita Hills Pinot almost three years ago. Even at that early point, we joined a growing chorus of fans that included Jancis Robinson, who wrote "I am convinced they are onto something."
While the Santa Rita Hills is entry level, Sandhi uses first class sources for it. Over half of the grapes are from 40-year-old vines in the famed Sanford and Benedict vineyard. You get a lot of wine for the money. There's a shocking depth of complexity along with brightness, beautiful delineation of spice and structure.
These are some of the most exciting and intriguing wines coming out of California. Listening to the interview and tasting the wine will make this very, very clear.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
I'll Drink to That! #240:
Sandhi Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
Special Email Bottle Price: $31.95