Santa Barbara is a reliable zip-code for elegant Californian Pinot Noir. It's one of the cooler pockets of the state, and so the wines tend to be light and floral. With a little bit of age, earthy and herbal flavors balance the wine's ripe, red-berry fruit, creating an experience not that unlike drinking expensive red burgundy. This bottle is made by Varner, a small producer in the region who farms all their fruit organically. The wine is smooth and juicy, soft and bright, and a real crowd-pleaser.