Concentrated black fruit and refreshing fresh herbs are typical of Bentrock. Aromas of black cherry, blood orange, mint, and black sage flowers. Juicy, crisp, refined, and firm on the palate. Layers of fine tannins and red fruit, youthful and tense, velvety tannins, and crisp. White pepper and cured meat. A wine that can withstand long-term aging, and a classic side of Bentrock from a great vintage. Plots: 7 different plots, especially the hilltop and southeast-facing plots (4, 5, 7, 13). Dijon and heritage clones. The Hilt is a premium winery that produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from its own vineyards on the coast of Santa Barbara County. It is owned by Stan Kroenke, the owner of Screaming Eagle, a synonymous name for California cult wine, and is known as a sister winery of Screaming Eagle. The wine is made by Matt Deas, a young and talented winemaker with a promising future. Matt is good at making wines with a "transparent" feel, and is a specialist who can express the terroir of the vineyard directly in the wine. He specializes in brewing science, and is known as a soil nerd. The Hilt's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are wines that can only be made by him as a nerd. The grapes used in The Hilt's wines are grown in a very harsh natural environment. The Santa Rita Hills AVA, which stretches from east to west, is complex and divided into four areas: north-facing, south-facing, near the Pacific Ocean, and inland. The vineyards used by The Hilt are closer to the Pacific Ocean and are north-facing plots that are influenced by sea breezes. It is a region known for being very difficult to cultivate, but it is said that the best grapes grow there. The area where The Hilt is based is known as Rancho Salsipuedes, and is located 20km inland from the Pacific Ocean. This is an undulating plateau with no obstacles blocking the cold winds that blow in from the sea, with a variety of altitudes, aspects, soils, and microclimates. This diversity of vineyards gives The Hilt's wines their unique personality and complexity. Rancho Salsipuedes has three of its own vineyards: Radian, Bentrock, and Puerta del Mar. The Hilt produces three blended wines from these vineyards with different styles. The main lineup is The Vanguard, which uses a lot of new barrels to give it a fruity flavor and structure, The Old Guard, which uses mainly old barrels to feature the delicacy and aromas of the Old World, and an estate wine that is blended with nuances that are just in the middle of these two extreme wines. In 2019, the long-awaited winery was completed on the Puerta del Mar site.