The Wine
A brooding beauty from the wind-swept slopes of the Fiddlestix Vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s premier appellation for Burgundian varieties – Santa Rita Hills (AKA Sta Rita Hills).
The wine is all about tension and texture, with aromas and flavors that evoke black cherry, dried cranberry, and crushed sage, all supported by a backbone of coastal salinity and fine-grained tannin. Added complexity comes from a bit of sandalwood and clove from the oak, but the fruit takes the starring role here – dark, savory, and precise. The finish is long and dominated by a minerality that hints at wet stone after a rain.
This is a wine that rewards patience and a proper glass and enough quiet time to appreciate its impressive and nuanced offering.
Pairings: The funky washed rind of Taleggio works well here, as does an aged Comte. Now grab your glass and transition to a main course designed to highlight this wine – pork with porcini mushrooms, one of our Duck Confit with lentils, or a roasted chicken or duck in a cherry reduction sauce.
The Winery
Founded in 1999 by the late Michael Bonaccorsi, a dynamic Master Sommelier turned winemaker, Bonaccorsi Wine Company remains to this day a study in elegance and site expression.
After launching to great critical acclaim, Michael suffered a fatal heart attack in 2004. His legacy continued under the watchful eye of his wife, Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi, who continued to craft wines that honored his terroir-driven style.
After fifteen years, she had tired of the challenge of running the operation and in 2019 she turned the stewardship duties over to Michael’s brothers (and their spouses), who had been involved from the beginning. They continue the operation to this day.
The Fiddlestix Vineyard, located on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, is known for its marine influence and gravelly soilsideal for Pinot Noir with structure and lift. Bonaccorsis style is minimalist and focused, letting the vineyard speak in a voice thats coastal, contemplative, and quietly powerful.
