Rated 3.94 out of 5 based on 48 customer ratings

The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020

Name: The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020
Brand: The Hilt Estate
SKU: OVEXSRXWHTQDJR7ZHCUXZQ5X
Price: 49.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.94 (49 reviews)

$49.95

13.00% /

750ml /

Vintage: 2020

WE 94
JD 93
JS 95
VIN 90

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12 bottles

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Winery: The Hilt Estate
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Winemaker: Matt Dees
Wine Style: Red Wine - Light and Perfumed
Wine Country Of Origin: United States
State / Province: California
Sub Region / AVA: Central Coast / Santa Barbara County / Sta. Rita Hills

Brand: The Hilt Estate

Wine Description

The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020, crafted by winemaker Matt Dees, guides us on a journey through the joyous and expressively red fruit-filled aromas and flavors of this vintage. The cooling herbs, plush attack, and mineral-laden character brings out the cherry, hibiscus, cranberry and blood orange notes and creates a pine forest profile complemented by the chanterelle aromas for an intriguing bouquet.

This vintage is brilliantly fresh and balanced, allowing the savory herbal notes and red fruit hedonics to mingle on the palate. Achieving vibrance acidity, The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020 yields succulent flavors of dried strawberry and cocoa powder. According to critics, the wine exhibits complex aromas of lavender, violet, cherry, and wild berry, with tones of sagebrush and toasted spices on the palate. They note the medium-bodied textured wine featuring subtle mineral points, salt, and a reserved slate profile.

This expressively fruity, yet delicately balanded Pinot Noir carries the imprint of the cool climate of The Hilt’s wind-blown, ocean-influenced vineyards and is highly recommend with a suggested 6-12 months in bottle. The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020 offers a bounty of complexity in an enjoyable and affordable package.

Additional information

Weight	3.5 lbs
Size	750ml

Reviews (49)

49 reviews for The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020

Rated 4 out of 5
Barbara Williams – May 22, 2019
Structured with ripe berries.
Rated 4 out of 5
Annette Bourgoin – May 23, 2019
Impressive, smoky nose with dark cherry and earthy palate. Firm structure and moderate tannin. Earthy finish, pairs well with robust food. Similar to Kistler, but less silky.
Rated 3 out of 5
Harmony Camp – July 9, 2019
Fresh and lively with good acidity and earthy notes. Surprisingly good with lots of complexity.
Rated 3 out of 5
Angela Alford – July 24, 2019
Balanced and fruity palate of tart raspberry, dried spice, and herbs. Dry finish. Nice style and value, leaning Oregon for a CA Pinot.
Rated 4 out of 5
Robert Briggs – October 12, 2019
Young, red berry nose with coal and saline on the palate. Surprisingly good, but not as expected. Needs more time in the cellar.
Rated 4 out of 5
Kimberly Thompson – October 12, 2019
Ruby-colored wine with a sweet cherry and strawberry aroma, earthy notes, and a smooth nutty finish. The taste is fresh with hints of tannin and a clear finish. Better than regular Pinot Noir.
Rated 4 out of 5
Michael Lopez – December 26, 2019
Beautiful Pinot with black cherry, blue raspberry candy, herbs, black licorice, potting soil, and light salinity. Lithe palate with great acidity. Takes a while to open up but pairs well with food.
Rated 4 out of 5
Oma Francis – May 2, 2020
Dark, ripe aroma with berry, cherry, and spice. Full-bodied with flavors of cola and smoke. Approachable and easy to drink without food. Good value for CA pinot noir.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cynthia Quinlan – May 4, 2020
Excellent central coast pinot with dark fruit, blueberry, smoke, and balanced acidity.
Rated 4 out of 5
Dianne Rossi – May 16, 2020
Needs decanting. Strawberries, raspberries, cherries. Refined, silky and long finish.
Rated 4 out of 5
Iva Cobb – June 6, 2020
Fresh and fruity with mild acidity. A step up from The Paring Pinot.
Rated 3 out of 5
Anita Kahl – August 27, 2020
Confirmed note. Structured with light tannins.
Rated 4 out of 5
Belinda Brown – August 29, 2020
Excellent Pinot Noir with strawberries, cherries, violets, smoke, and pepper. Great value at $40, from Jonata. Drink now for its fruitiness.
Rated 4 out of 5
Marjorie Johnson – September 21, 2020
Decant before drinking. Improves after an hour. Needs a couple of years. Dark cherry, tea, pomegranate, hint of sage.
Rated 4 out of 5
Billie Jackson – October 15, 2020
Raspberry fruit with grip and gumption. Superior vineyards owned outright.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cecil Gooden – October 20, 2020
Concentrated fruit with freshness, a rich and balanced wine that improves with age. Clean cut and in harmony. 91++.
Rated 4 out of 5
Penny Robinson – November 6, 2020
Nice cherry and raspberry fruit, earthy with subtle floral notes. Good acidity, overall very enjoyable.
Rated 4 out of 5
Justin Fernandez – November 28, 2020
Full-bodied and good, a memorable late addition to the Thanksgiving parade of Beaujolais and Pinots.
Rated 4 out of 5
Dorothy Mooney – December 16, 2020
Great value Pinot Noir that drinks well now. Enjoyable with or without food for a casual night in.
Rated 4 out of 5
Martha Myers – February 25, 2021
Spicy Pinot, meaty mid-palate, medium-long finish. Good value, 5 years left.
Rated 4 out of 5
Anthony Foley – March 1, 2021
Young and fruity, needed a few hours to open. Perfect with duck.
Rated 3 out of 5
Andrew Mccloud – March 2, 2021
Bright cranberry fruit with power and freshness.
Rated 4 out of 5
Lenora Maas – March 5, 2021
Improved with time.
Rated 4 out of 5
Edward Fanney – March 6, 2021
Silky and delicious with a balancing acidity and hints of raspberry, cherry, and blackberry. Medium-plus finish.
Rated 4 out of 5
Alisha Sake – March 27, 2021
Savory and full-bodied, this $30 Passover wine is a good value, though not as good as Pro Bono wine. May improve with age.
Rated 4 out of 5
Larry Bell – March 30, 2021
Garnet-rose color. Boysenberry and black raspberry on the nose. Cranberry dominates with a crisp finish.
Rated 4 out of 5
Marilyn Montoya – May 2, 2021
Great garnet color with blue/black fruit spectrum. A well-judged wine with a nice, clean finish and no edges. Very good.
Rated 4 out of 5
Pauline Everson – November 16, 2021
Vibrant and flavorful, with a pleasant fruitiness.
Rated 4 out of 5
Charlotte Terry – December 6, 2021
Too fruity for me.
Rated 4 out of 5
Larry Sessions – December 15, 2021
Too ripe and candied for my taste, similar to the previous bottle.
Rated 4 out of 5
Marjorie Louthan – December 25, 2021
Matt Dees’ SRH pinot is a complex and lovely wine with blueberry-cranberry/tart cherry fruit notes. It also has hints of pomegranate, lavender, and spice, with a long finish. However, it’s still a bit young.
Rated 4 out of 5
Tracy Brummett – January 9, 2022
Solid 90. Good color, light body, pleasant flavors.
Rated 4 out of 5
Alma Brede – January 16, 2022
Complex and deep wine that improved over time.
Rated 4 out of 5
Gary Gale – January 16, 2022
Review: Consistent with previous bottles/notes.
Rated 4 out of 5
Geoffrey Wilder – January 26, 2022
Intense nose of kirsh and root beer. Dark cherry, shitake, sous bois, blood orange rind with silky smooth tannins. Finish of kirsh, mushroom and blood orange skin goes on and on. Exceptional intensity.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cecelia Rigatti – February 17, 2022
Well-balanced wine with ripe and herbaceous elements. Medium plus-bodied with nice intensity. Could benefit from more time in bottle, but enjoyable now.
Rated 4 out of 5
Marlene Carter – February 23, 2022
Ready to drink, medium-bodied with notes of black cherry.
Rated 4 out of 5
Matthew Reeder – June 2, 2022
Powerful and dense, this Pinot from Hilt Estate in California boasts juicy acidity and bold tannins. Notes of black cherry, pepper, and ripe fruit prevail, with hints of graphite emerging as the wine warms.
Rated 4 out of 5
Cheryl Miller – June 11, 2022
Matt Dees’ SRH Pinot is complex and lovely, with blueberry-cranberry/tart cherry fruit, pomegranate, lavender, and spice notes. Long finish. December 2021 bottle doesn’t seem so young.
Rated 4 out of 5
Jessica Smith – June 15, 2022
Impressive mid-tiered Pinot, worth $30. Crowd pleaser with nice flavors. Great for a weeknight.
Rated 4 out of 5
Todd Couchman – October 22, 2022
Pleasant cherry and strawberry palate with high acidity and tannins. Flat oak finish.
Rated 4 out of 5
Marie Hernandez – November 20, 2022
Unimpressive. Lacks balance, fruit, and flavor. Astringent and unsatisfying.
Rated 3 out of 5
Robert Bingham – January 11, 2023
Classy domestic Pinot with lovely raspberry notes and a firm, dense palate.
Rated 4 out of 5
Susan Davis – January 29, 2023
Approachable and fruit-forward with a slight heft, similar to a cab. Fine tannins with no harsh alcohol taste. A crowd-pleaser with great value.
Rated 4 out of 5
Zelma Greenlee – April 10, 2023
Not elegant or nuanced enough for me.
Rated 4 out of 5
Joseph Grenier – May 23, 2023
Disappointing vintage, bitter, bland, minimal fruit.
Rated 4 out of 5
WE – May 31, 2023
A concentrated floral character to this bottling emerges more redolently as the wine breathes, showing lavender, violet, cherry and wild berry on the nose. The palate is bold but silky, offering dark berry and cranberry as well as slightly bitter touches of sagebrush.
Rated 4 out of 5
JD – May 31, 2023
Moving to the reds, the 2020 Pinot Noir Estate has lots of black raspberry and strawberry-like fruits as well as toasted spices and floral notes. It’s medium-bodied, textured, has some background, nicely integrated oak, and beautiful tannins.
Rated 4 out of 5
JS – May 31, 2023
Lovely floral aromas of lavender and rose petal with ripe yet fresh strawberries. Crushed stone. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and bright acidity. Subtle mineral and salt notes with gorgeous fruits. But always reserved. Slate. Super value, such quality.

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Critical Acclaim

WE 94

Wine Enthusiast

A concentrated floral character to this bottling emerges more redolently as the wine breathes, showing lavender, violet, cherry and wild berry on the nose. The palate is bold but silky, offering dark berry and cranberry as well as slightly bitter touches of sagebrush.

JD 93

Jeb Dunnuck

Moving to the reds, the 2020 Pinot Noir Estate has lots of black raspberry and strawberry-like fruits as well as toasted spices and floral notes. It’s medium-bodied, textured, has some background, nicely integrated oak, and beautiful tannins.

JS 95

James Suckling

Lovely floral aromas of lavender and rose petal with ripe yet fresh strawberries. Crushed stone. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins and bright acidity. Subtle mineral and salt notes with gorgeous fruits. But always reserved. Slate. Super value, such quality.

VIN 90

Vinous

The 2020 Pinot Noir Estate is bright and vibrant, showing terrific purity and tons of class. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and dried herbs all run through this mid-weight, transparent Pinot Noir. I would give this another 6-12 months in bottle at least. The Estate is conceived as a sort of entry-level offering, but the 2020 is a pretty serious wine that requires at least a measure of patience.

What does The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020 taste like?

Light

Bold

Smooth

Tannic

Dry

Sweet

Soft

Acidic

leather, earthy, mushroom

cherry, raspberry, red fruit

oak, vanilla, dark chocolate

apple

plum, black cherry, black plum

pepper, licorice, cinnamon

orange, orange zest, blood orange

cream

rhubarb, tomato leaf

violet, lavender, potpourri

Food Pairing with The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020

Our wine experts think this Light and Perfumed The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020 wine would be a match made in heaven with these dishes. Bon appétit!

The Hilt Estate

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Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir grapes exhibit a distinct elegance. Their thin skins and tightly clustered berries make them susceptible to disease and challenging to cultivate. However, the rewards of this persnickety grape are extraordinary. Pinot Noir wines possess a remarkable flavor profile, often described as silky, with vibrant acidity, delicate tannins, and an array of aromas. Expect to encounter red fruit notes like cherry and raspberry, accompanied by earthy undertones, floral hints, and sometimes a touch of spice. Renowned regions such as Burgundy in France, the Willamette Valley in Oregon, and California's Sonoma County have become synonymous with exceptional Pinot Noir production. Each region brings its own terroir and climate, contributing to the wine's character. Burgundy, for instance,... Read More

Winemaker of The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020

Matt Dees

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Sta. Rita Hills

The wine region of Sta. Rita Hills has a rich history dating back to its establishment as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in July 2001. Originally known as Santa Rita Hills, the AVA faced a name change to Sta. Rita Hills in 2006 due to protests from Vina Santa Rita, a large Chilean wine company. Today, the AVA covers approximately 14,000 hectares (36,000 acres) of land, with vineyards predominantly planted with Pinot Noir, followed by Chardonnay, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and other grape varieties. Sta. Rita Hills benefits from a unique location at the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley in California's... Read More

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The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2020