The Hilt Estate is owned by the same owners as Screaming Eagle and Jonata Vineyards. Matt Dees is the winemaker at both Jonata and The Hilt and he is a bit of a soil guru. In 2014, this winery purchased 3600 acres of vineyards called Rancho Salsipuedes. It is located in the southwest corner of the Santa Rita Hills that is an unobstructed, ocean facing, wineswept vineyard. Soil is poor and it has a cold maritime climate. Basically the worst place to grow grapes. But the philosophy of the winery was to find the worst place for a grape grower but the best place for a winemaker. Very low yields produce concentrated, complex grapes. The winery was to push the grapes to the hilt of their potential.
The wine is made 100% from Pinot Noir. Strange choice since Pinot Noir is known to be a very fickle grape variety. The wine is aged in 30% new French oak and the rest in neutral oak.
Price of this wine at B.C. Liquor Stores is CDN$77.99. For viewer abroad at 15% tax and you will get our price in Canadian dollars for comparison.
For more information about this winery, please visit their website at