28 Jul Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Fiddlehead Cellars 2014 Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

Every wine grape has a holiday but today, July 28th, is the day to celebrate a particular winery and a specific vineyard. July 28th, aka 7/28, is Drink 728 Day, so to honor that I am drinking a bottle of Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir from the Fiddlestix Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

Fiddlestix Vineyard, owned by winemaker Kathy Joseph, is located at mile marker 7.28 on Santa Rosa Road in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in the Santa Ynez Valley. A 133-acre property, there are 96 acres planted to Pinot Noir, as well as a small planting of Gruner Veltliner. Kathy Joseph purchased the property in 1996 and her first vintage from that vineyard was in 2000. She meticulously nurtures the vineyard which is divided into 32-mini blocks that are at various exposures, soil types, and elevations and has six clones of Pinot Noir planted.

The Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight is a blend of all six clones planted in the vineyard. The 2014, which is now seven years old, is a beautiful bright garnet color. It has earthy aromas with notes of wild strawberry and black cherry cola, and a touch of smoky and herbal notes. On the palate, the wine has broad textures, sandpaper-like tannins, and full-mouth acidity that leaves the mouth watering for more.

There is never an excuse needed to drink a beautiful bottle of Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir, but on this #winewednesday, which falls on July 28th, I say “Drink 728 on 7/28”. And, if you would like to enjoy the Fiddelhead Cellars 2014 Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir, which normally retails for $46, it is currently available for $39.10.