2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is a blend of four clones, exemplifying the signature character, quality, and elegance of Pinot Noir grown in our estate vineyard.
The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate opens with warm aromas of black cherry, cinnamon, earth, and cedar. A soft, silky texture reveals sleek flavors of raspberry, cranberry, and dried cherry with suggestions of toasted oak and mocha. Smooth acidity adds lift to a full, structured finish.
The 35-acre Brick Barn estate vineyard lies just north of the Santa Ynez River in a largely unexplored wine-growing corridor near the city of Buellton in the western Santa Ynez Valley. This Pinot Noir draws upon five Pinot Noir blocks featuring four clones—Pommard, 115, 667, 777, and 828—planted along an upper highland at an elevation of 550 feet. Here, persistent sun exposure ensures fully defined fruit flavors, while the Pacific Ocean—just 10 miles away—delivers daily cooling that maintains vital varietal acidity and structure. Rocky loam and limestone soils further imbue the fruit with classic Pinot Noir qualities.
Winemaking
After nighttime harvesting, the fruit was destemmed and cold soaked over a period of four days for a gentle extraction of color and flavor. The clonal lots were co-fermented over a period of two weeks with daily pump-overs for further extraction. After fermentation, the wine was settled in stainless steel tanks and then racked into French oak barrels, where it aged for 20 months prior to bottling. Twenty percent of the barrels featured new oak to enhance the body and complexity of the wine. By blending four distinct estate-grown clones into one wine, Winemaker Adrian Bolshoi was able to create a Pinot Noir of natural depth and complexity.
Food Pairings
The full, balanced character of the 2019 Pinot Noir Estate pairs well with herb-roasted pork tenderloin and pan-seared lamb chops, baked salmon, herb-roasted turkey breast, and mushroom risotto.
Specs
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Clones: 115, 667, 777 and Pommard
Appellation: Santa Ynez Valley
Aging Regimen: 20 months in French oak barrels (20% new oak)
Alcohol: 14.4%
pH: 3.80
Total Acidity: 0.50
Production: 1,100 cases
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley Case:
12x 2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley
Founded by the visionary duo of Norman and Kathleen Williams, Brick Barn Wine Estate is a testament to their shared love for wine and a fervent desire to craft something truly special. The seeds of their dream were planted in 2012 when they established the estate vineyard, culminating in the inaugural vintage of 2015. Three years later, in 2018, the doors to the Brick Barn tasting room swung open, welcoming guests into a world of unparalleled wine experiences.
But the roots of Brick Barn Wine Estate run deeper still, tracing back over five decades to 1968 when Norman first acquired 40 acres of this hallowed ground. In the ensuing years, amidst the verdant beauty of the landscape, the property flourished not only as a bastion of organic farming and ranching but also as a renowned Arabian horse farm, earning its place among the valley’s elite.
Today, Brick Barn Wine Estate stands as a beacon of excellence, celebrated for its unwavering commitment to producing wines that embody the essence of their terroir. With each bottle, it offers a glimpse into a rich tapestry of heritage, innovation, and the timeless pursuit of perfection.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir - $55 = 27.49%
Spectator:
86 points. Light red tea, strawberry and sous-bois notes form the mix in this red, with a savory edge on the stem-tinged finish. Drink now. 1,100 cases made. James Molesworth 3/18/24
I received a bottle of the 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir a few days ago, which gave me the opportunity to try it several times with different pairing. The first night I had it with a pork chop and baked potato, and the second night I had it with Tuna and orzo pasta.
My impressions of the wine over two days:
Look: The wine is a translucent ruby red with somewhat transient legs that melt across the glass.
Nose: Very light and hard to pin down. At first I was just getting a vague fruitiness with some alcohol burn. The second day I was able to discern cranberry and cherry notes, but the alcohol still lingered in the background. The scent of my dinner (garlicky orzo pasta with tuna and zucchini) overpowered it, even when I moved away from my plate.
Taste: The flavor of the wine is transient and ephemeral. It’s light, slightly tannic on the front, and finishes with tart fruit and perhaps a hint of cedar or juniper. It finishes clean and is a good palate cleanser, but doesn’t offer a lot to dwell on.
The first night I opened the bottle, I paired it with a pork chop and a baked potato. It didn’t stand up to the food. The pork chop was pan-browned, seasoned with salt and pepper, and finished with a peach glaze. I didn’t feel like the meal was so strongly flavored that a pinot noir would be flattened by it, so I was surprised at how little flavor I was getting from the wine.
The second night I paired the wine with a dinner of tuna, garlicky orzo pasta, and zucchini. Again, the garlic was aromatic, but it was a fairly light dinner. I could barely smell the wine over the scent of my food, so I walked the glass away from my plate to get a better nose on it. But even with the distance from my dinner, I couldn’t smell much in the wine. Nose is pretty important to me with wine, so this was a disappointment. Drinking the wine with dinner, I found it to be a pleasant palate cleanser, but otherwise it didn’t bring much to the table. It didn’t enhance the food, and the food did nothing for the wine. It washed a slightly tannic cranberry and cherry flavor over my tongue, finished clean, and left barely a memory.
For a low price, would this make a good, every day drinker? Not for me. I need my every day wines to stand up to food, and ideally, enhance the meal. I drink a lot of pinot noir, and I’m sorry to say that this one just doesn’t measure up for me.
@rjquillin No, it was at room temperature (73F) for all tastings. There is a possibility that it got too warm during shipping. I’m in Florida, so shipping here before November is always a risk, but it wasn’t that hot the day it was delivered, and it didn’t taste “cooked” to me. But it’s certainly a possibility.
@gemeinschaft79@rjquillin If anything perhaps a bit on the warm end of serving temp. Without knowing specifics, wine is heartier than we think and an overnight trip, assuming it was overnight, to Florida shouldn’t be a problem
I did enjoy the Brick Barn 2021 Rhone Blend we had on Casemates a while back. Perhaps this one just isn’t for me, or perhaps it had bottle shock or something. I have to be honest in my reviews though.
Hi everyone! Elizabeth here from Brick Barn Wine Estate. I’m the General Manager and have been with the winery for six years, so I’m excited to share insights on our wines with you.
Our 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir is intentionally crafted in a lighter, more delicate style, which is part of what makes our estate so special. Pinot Noir is a varietal that’s often heavily scrutinized because it offers such a vast array of styles, from light to heavy-bodied. Each style is truly a matter of preference, and we’re proud to offer a nuanced, fruit-forward expression that embraces our vineyard’s unique characteristics.
This wine is a blend of the 667, 115, 777, and Pommard clones, which gives it a beautifully fruity profile with aromas of red currant, cranberry, dried red fruit, and fresh tart berries. There’s no alcohol burn here; at 14.4%, the acidity, fruit, and alcohol are all well-balanced to create a wine that’s elegant yet vibrant.
We appreciate the feedback from the Lab Rat review—thank you for taking the time to try our wine with a variety of meals! Because our Pinot Noir is lighter, we usually recommend pairing it with more delicate dishes, such as poultry, salmon, or a simple charcuterie plate. Heavier flavors like pork or garlicky foods can be a bit bold for this particular Pinot, which may have affected its ability to shine in the pairing.
Additionally, please note that there were no temperature issues during shipping; everything was handled with the utmost care. Wine is often sensitive to personal palate preferences, especially with lighter Pinot Noirs, and we believe our style has a special place in any wine lover’s collection.
Thank you all for your support and for sharing your thoughts with us. If anyone has further questions or would like more notes, feel free to contact me directly. We’re here to ensure you have the best experience possible and hope you enjoy discovering all the fruity, subtle beauty this Pinot Noir from Brick Barn’s estate vineyard has to offer!
@BrickBarnWines FWIW, I really enjoyed your 2021 Rhone Blend. Maybe this one had bottle shock, or it’s just not for me. But I do appreciate the chance to try it.
@BrickBarnWines Thanks for coming on board to provide insight on your wine! Although I haven’t tasted your wine, I would think a nice dose of garlic could mute a flavor profile…and cure a Cold!
I was lucky to receive the 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir for review.
Color: Medium to Dark Pink.
Nose: Dark Berries, Cherry, and a little alcohol.
The first taste was smooth with a full mouthfeel, with low to medium tannins. The taste was consistent with the nose and had a lot of the same berry flavors. This wine is bigger than the thin appearance, which could have been due to the higher alcohol content at 14.4. I found it smooth and balanced and will pick up a few at the casemates price.
Santa Ynez AVA is rather broad. It includes Santa Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, and a few other sub appellations. My question is: how can a wine be labeled as “estate” when grapes come from vineyards not on the estate? Truly curious
@losthighwayz their estate is just east of the Sta Rita Hills and therefore cannot label it as such; Santa Ynez Valley IS their AVA, unless they want to call it Santa Barbara County . . .
Thank you, Larry! The fruit for this wine is 100% grown on the estate and we are in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. We felt labeling it as Santa Barbara County would make the wine appear as if we sourced from different vineyards.
@losthighwayz it’s not uncommon for a wine estate to comprise of multiple Vineyards not necessarily all in the exact same location. I saw this a lot when tasting down in this region. Many Estates had or maintained Vineyards in different locations where the soil and micro climate was ideal for the varietals. Cheers.
@losthighwayz@winesnob true - but not in this case. And usually with Pinot, if you are going to be blending multiple vineyards in our area, it would normally labeled as Sta Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley OR SBC. Labeling it as Santa Ynez Valley is rarer these days for this variety - but quite accurate with this specific producer and this specific vineyard. Cheers!
I like lighter Pinot Noir wine. SINCE YOU CHIMED IN ON YOUR OFFER and EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ROOM FOR WINE (1000+ BOTTLES, I’m going to hear plenty from the wife when it arrives!
2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Notes
Winemaking
Food Pairings
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$540.00/Case for 12x 2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Ynez Valley at Brick Barn Wine Estate
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 18 - Tuesday, Nov 19
2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $49.99 $16.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $144.99 $12.08/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Brick Barn Estate Pinot Noir - $55 = 27.49%
Spectator:
86 points. Light red tea, strawberry and sous-bois notes form the mix in this red, with a savory edge on the stem-tinged finish. Drink now. 1,100 cases made. James Molesworth 3/18/24
fwiw
I received a bottle of the 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir a few days ago, which gave me the opportunity to try it several times with different pairing. The first night I had it with a pork chop and baked potato, and the second night I had it with Tuna and orzo pasta.
My impressions of the wine over two days:
Look: The wine is a translucent ruby red with somewhat transient legs that melt across the glass.
Nose: Very light and hard to pin down. At first I was just getting a vague fruitiness with some alcohol burn. The second day I was able to discern cranberry and cherry notes, but the alcohol still lingered in the background. The scent of my dinner (garlicky orzo pasta with tuna and zucchini) overpowered it, even when I moved away from my plate.
Taste: The flavor of the wine is transient and ephemeral. It’s light, slightly tannic on the front, and finishes with tart fruit and perhaps a hint of cedar or juniper. It finishes clean and is a good palate cleanser, but doesn’t offer a lot to dwell on.
The first night I opened the bottle, I paired it with a pork chop and a baked potato. It didn’t stand up to the food. The pork chop was pan-browned, seasoned with salt and pepper, and finished with a peach glaze. I didn’t feel like the meal was so strongly flavored that a pinot noir would be flattened by it, so I was surprised at how little flavor I was getting from the wine.
The second night I paired the wine with a dinner of tuna, garlicky orzo pasta, and zucchini. Again, the garlic was aromatic, but it was a fairly light dinner. I could barely smell the wine over the scent of my food, so I walked the glass away from my plate to get a better nose on it. But even with the distance from my dinner, I couldn’t smell much in the wine. Nose is pretty important to me with wine, so this was a disappointment. Drinking the wine with dinner, I found it to be a pleasant palate cleanser, but otherwise it didn’t bring much to the table. It didn’t enhance the food, and the food did nothing for the wine. It washed a slightly tannic cranberry and cherry flavor over my tongue, finished clean, and left barely a memory.
For a low price, would this make a good, every day drinker? Not for me. I need my every day wines to stand up to food, and ideally, enhance the meal. I drink a lot of pinot noir, and I’m sorry to say that this one just doesn’t measure up for me.
@gemeinschaft79
Any possibility a low serving temperature could have affected the shy nose?
@rjquillin No, it was at room temperature (73F) for all tastings. There is a possibility that it got too warm during shipping. I’m in Florida, so shipping here before November is always a risk, but it wasn’t that hot the day it was delivered, and it didn’t taste “cooked” to me. But it’s certainly a possibility.
@gemeinschaft79 @rjquillin If anything perhaps a bit on the warm end of serving temp. Without knowing specifics, wine is heartier than we think and an overnight trip, assuming it was overnight, to Florida shouldn’t be a problem
I did enjoy the Brick Barn 2021 Rhone Blend we had on Casemates a while back. Perhaps this one just isn’t for me, or perhaps it had bottle shock or something. I have to be honest in my reviews though.
@gemeinschaft79 The 2021 Rhone Blend is great! Glad you enjoyed it. It’s my favorite red of the 2021 vintage!
Hi everyone! Elizabeth here from Brick Barn Wine Estate. I’m the General Manager and have been with the winery for six years, so I’m excited to share insights on our wines with you.
Our 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir is intentionally crafted in a lighter, more delicate style, which is part of what makes our estate so special. Pinot Noir is a varietal that’s often heavily scrutinized because it offers such a vast array of styles, from light to heavy-bodied. Each style is truly a matter of preference, and we’re proud to offer a nuanced, fruit-forward expression that embraces our vineyard’s unique characteristics.
This wine is a blend of the 667, 115, 777, and Pommard clones, which gives it a beautifully fruity profile with aromas of red currant, cranberry, dried red fruit, and fresh tart berries. There’s no alcohol burn here; at 14.4%, the acidity, fruit, and alcohol are all well-balanced to create a wine that’s elegant yet vibrant.
We appreciate the feedback from the Lab Rat review—thank you for taking the time to try our wine with a variety of meals! Because our Pinot Noir is lighter, we usually recommend pairing it with more delicate dishes, such as poultry, salmon, or a simple charcuterie plate. Heavier flavors like pork or garlicky foods can be a bit bold for this particular Pinot, which may have affected its ability to shine in the pairing.
Additionally, please note that there were no temperature issues during shipping; everything was handled with the utmost care. Wine is often sensitive to personal palate preferences, especially with lighter Pinot Noirs, and we believe our style has a special place in any wine lover’s collection.
Thank you all for your support and for sharing your thoughts with us. If anyone has further questions or would like more notes, feel free to contact me directly. We’re here to ensure you have the best experience possible and hope you enjoy discovering all the fruity, subtle beauty this Pinot Noir from Brick Barn’s estate vineyard has to offer!
@BrickBarnWines Thank you!
@BrickBarnWines
and thanks for a proper introduction
@BrickBarnWines FWIW, I really enjoyed your 2021 Rhone Blend. Maybe this one had bottle shock, or it’s just not for me. But I do appreciate the chance to try it.
@BrickBarnWines Thanks for coming on board to provide insight on your wine! Although I haven’t tasted your wine, I would think a nice dose of garlic could mute a flavor profile…and cure a Cold!
I was lucky to receive the 2021 Brick Barn Pinot Noir for review.
Color: Medium to Dark Pink.
Nose: Dark Berries, Cherry, and a little alcohol.
The first taste was smooth with a full mouthfeel, with low to medium tannins. The taste was consistent with the nose and had a lot of the same berry flavors. This wine is bigger than the thin appearance, which could have been due to the higher alcohol content at 14.4. I found it smooth and balanced and will pick up a few at the casemates price.
@GraysonM Thank you for the review!
Santa Ynez AVA is rather broad. It includes Santa Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, and a few other sub appellations. My question is: how can a wine be labeled as “estate” when grapes come from vineyards not on the estate? Truly curious
@losthighwayz their estate is just east of the Sta Rita Hills and therefore cannot label it as such; Santa Ynez Valley IS their AVA, unless they want to call it Santa Barbara County . . .
@losthighwayz @tercerowines
Thank you, Larry! The fruit for this wine is 100% grown on the estate and we are in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. We felt labeling it as Santa Barbara County would make the wine appear as if we sourced from different vineyards.
@losthighwayz it’s not uncommon for a wine estate to comprise of multiple Vineyards not necessarily all in the exact same location. I saw this a lot when tasting down in this region. Many Estates had or maintained Vineyards in different locations where the soil and micro climate was ideal for the varietals. Cheers.
@losthighwayz @winesnob true - but not in this case. And usually with Pinot, if you are going to be blending multiple vineyards in our area, it would normally labeled as Sta Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley OR SBC. Labeling it as Santa Ynez Valley is rarer these days for this variety - but quite accurate with this specific producer and this specific vineyard. Cheers!
I like lighter Pinot Noir wine. SINCE YOU CHIMED IN ON YOUR OFFER and EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ROOM FOR WINE (1000+ BOTTLES, I’m going to hear plenty from the wife when it arrives!
@Boatman72 Thank you for trying it! Hope you can share some of your bottles this holiday season with friends!
@Boatman72 That’s the woot spirit!