The Hilt, The Old Guard Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

Also amazing and pure and focused.

2013 vintage

This 2013 Old Guard Pinot Noir from The Hilt is excellent! The flavor profile is very Burgundian even though the ABV is 14%. The years have been good to this wine with vibrant acid in balance with the tannins, and alcohol. Taste on the pallet is filled with light red fruits of strawberry, and cranberry. The base is supported with earthy minerals from the diatomaceous earth from the Sta Rita Hills AVA. This is my last bottle from the cellar …

2013 vintage

Plenty of black berries with near-sweet spice and a touch of humus. I like the richness juxtaposed with enough brightness here, but find a bit too much pronounced whole cluster interferes with the otherwise fine balance. Still, certainly good and nicely complex.

2015 vintage

Wow, what a difference a few years make. Bumped this from a 90 to 94. Drinking beautifully right now

2015 vintage

Pop and pour. In the glass, raspberry/ruby color at the rim, shading to dark clear ruby at the core. On the nose, high-toned cherries with a touch of lemon thyme. On the palate, dark cherries and nutmeg lead the way, with notes of cinnamon and citrus on a tight, smooth finish. Not a lean or austere wine by any measure, but neither an RRV fruit bomb.

2013 vintage

My first The Hilt Pinot and I'm with MSUWINE on this one. Needs a minimum of one hour of air along with a short fridg stay to help knock some of the heat off the initial taste. We liked the New World Pinot glass more than the traditional bowl. Not a lush fruit forward Russian River Valley Pinot (our favorite) but still very nice, just a different style. More to the austere, cranberry, rhubarb side of the taste spectrum. Maybe …

2015 vintage

This candied and forward Pinot is drinking fine now, but any aspirations for greatness (cough, AG) are delusional. Cherry red in color; medium in body; nose of cherry pie, cranberry, and spice cake. Flavors of cranberry cocktail and anise, with a sweet and silky finish. 14.1% alcohol. This is straightforward and tasty, but not much more. Drink in next year or two.

2015 vintage

This hit a dull note with me. Really flabby. I don't mind the richness just want something to balance it out and didn't get that. I have another bottle so I'll hold for a bit and see how it goes.

2015 vintage

Deep raspberry and spice nose, the palate is feminine, inviting and rounded, flavors of cherry, spice and stone, not overly complex, but elegant and understated, words cannot illustrate the craftsmanship of this, just feels good to drink

2013 vintage

Just seeing other reviewers commenting about opening this too early. I found it enjoyable and approachable, but can concur it may have a definite upside with additional time. Deep red in color with red berries and dark plums. A tinge of heat that blew off pretty quickly. Mouthfilling and flavorful. Clearly enough structure to benefit from more time, but I don’t think you have to wait 2-3 more years to enjoy it.

2015 vintage

Scored higher the first day, but the wine faded badly on day two; I would drink now

2015 vintage

Stop !! Do not make the mistake I did. Way too early to open this wine. Just hold until at least 2022. I should have read the other reviews more carefully. Very sour, even with much air time. Huge potential.

2015 vintage

Clearly a well built pinot, although I think I opened this too early Very tight, opened only slightly on day two. I'm going to give remaining bottle 3+ years,

2015 vintage

Burgundy style Pinot. Medium body, brilliant red to purple color. Earth, red cherries/raspberries, and clove. To me this has a lot of classic Burgundy style. Well-structured tannins and slightly higher acidity.

2013 vintage

Enjoyed the Old Guard but liked the Vanguard slightly more. CAnt go wrong either way.

2015 vintage

Picked this wine out of wine refrig thinking is was a 2013....this one was way too early...too tight at this point...hold for three years

2015 vintage

Aromatics are coming around. Good body and tannins. Long spicy finish with herbal tang from significant whole cluster fermentation.

2013 vintage

Light, sweet red fruit and oak. Easy drinking, fun, light, sappy and not overly complex. Again very likeable and nice, but unimpressive.

2013 vintage

Terrior of Meaty gravel and a bit of heat on the nose. Spicy and fruit forward on the initial palate. While tannins are apparent the finish seems unusually dried fruit driven. Good mid level expression of a great pedigree.

2013 vintage

Dark ruby in color. The nose is somewhat closed now but subtle notes of dried berries and tea are apparent with time. Restrained in style compared with many of its California peers, the ripe dark fruit is balanced by nice freshness and structure from 25% whole cluster fermentation. With only 10% new oak, the Sanford & Benedict fruit is really allowed to shine. Would be nice to see how it evolves with more time in the bottle.

2013 vintage

Medium to full bodied with earthy texture

2013 vintage

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The Hilt, The Old Guard Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County

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