Tyler Winery is a wine producer based in Santa Barbara County on the Central Coast of California wine country in the USA. Winemaker Justin Tyler Willett’s specialty is Burgundy-style single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, produced from some of the finest terroirs of the Golden State. These exceptional wines offer pure terroir and vintage expressions of iconic cool-climate sites in the Sta Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley.
The Story Behind Tyler Wine
Tyler Wine was born in 2005, when a young Justin Tyler Willett began experimenting with a few barrels of his own wine at the Arcadian Winery, where he was working at the time. It was during his time as assistant winemaker there that he developed his own style through Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills.
Justin has always shown a strong preference for low-yielding old vines from pedigreed vineyard sites. He has worked with a handful of carefully-chosen growers, like the legendary Sanford and Benedict vineyard, the Dierberg vineyard and the Wenzlau vineyard. In just a few years, Justin and his wife Amanda acquired Tyler Winery’s very first estate vineyard. The Mae Vineyard is today planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah over a vineyard area of 28 acres.
A Sublime Terroir in Santa Barbara County
The single vineyard Tyler Pinot Noir and Tyler Chardonnay wines are produced in Santa Barbara County region of California’s Central Coast in the country United States. This premium wine region is home to a magnificent topography of transverse ranges and valleys. The marine soils and cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean combine to produce ideal growing conditions for cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
To produce his terroir-driven and refreshingly transparent wines, Justin works with long-established heritage selections and clones well-adapted to the rugged conditions of Santa Rita and Santa Maria. Chardonnay tends to be grown in lighter soils, while Pinot Noir is planted in soils richer in clay. The estate vineyard is planted at half the density of Burgundy and cultivated with organic practices.
A Minimal-Intervention Approach to Winemaking
In the winery, Justin has chosen a minimal intervention approach to winemaking in order to bring out the pure expression of grape variety, terroir and vintage. The grapes are manually harvested and manually sorted at the winery.
To produce the Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills and Pinot Noir from Santa Maria, the fruit (left partially in whole bunches) is cold soaked for 3-5 days, followed by a spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts only. Maceration typically takes two weeks, with regular punch-downs and pump-overs, before the wine is pressed and transferred to barrels. The aging program is characterized by mostly neutral oak, with some new oak used on certain wines based on vineyard of origin, vintage and vine age. The wines spend a year in barrel, after which they are racked, blended and returned to the barrel. They are bottled without fining or filtration.
To make their Chardonnay from St. Rita Hills and Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley, the fruit is also harvested manually. For some of their Chardonnay from Santa Barbara, the grapes are pressed in whole clusters and then left to settle overnight. Fermentation with native yeasts takes place in French oak barrels and puncheons without battonage. Fermentation and aging takes around 10 months. The wines are aged an additional 8 months in stainless steel vats before they are bottled.
The Signature Style of Tyler Wines
The white and red wines of Tyler Winery are prized for their remarkable clarity and poise. With minimal intervention winemaking giving way for the terroir to shine through, these wines are exceptional representations of some of California’s finest vineyard lands.
The Tyler Bien Nacido Vineyard ‘N Block’ Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara is a superb representation of Justin’s signature style. Hailing from the “N Block”, known to be Justin’s favorite, this Pinot Noir reveals a gorgeous bouquet of raspberries, strawberries, florals and forest floor. The palate is quite layered, offering plenty of energy and focus, along with a mid-palate dominated by vibrant fruit flavors. Already a Californian icon, this Santa Maria Valley Pinot will pair beautifully with a wide range of food and wine pairings, including cheeses, charcuterie and truffled dishes.
The Tyler Bien Nacido Vineyard ‘W Block’ Chardonnay from Santa Barbara is a powerful white wine hailing from 45-year-old vines. On the nose, it reveals aromas of apple, peach skin and honey. The palate is quite exotic, with an ample texture and crisp, saline finish. Pair this delicious Chardonnay with roast goose served with wild mushrooms.
Any Questions?
Have any questions about the price of Tyler Wines situated in Lompoc or other California wines like Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or Russian River Valley Pinot Noir? Do not hesitate to reach out to our team directly!
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