This elegant Estate Pinot Noir is a gorgeous value that will impress on any day of the week. The bouquet pulls you in with juicy red cherry, cranberry, raspberry, ripe strawberry, and savory herbs. The palate is silky smooth with a mouthwatering finish. – August 2022

The Hilt Winery

The Hilt is Screaming Eagle’s sister project in Santa Barbara that produces truly mind
bending Chardonnay and Pinot Noir!
“One of the top Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers in Santa Barbara County, The
Hilt is managed by the team at Jonata, with up-and-coming superstar winemaker Matt
Dees making the wines.” - Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“This is an absolutely stellar set of wines from The Hilt. Winemaker Matt Dees has
crafted what are the finest Santa Barbara Pinots I have tasted so far.” - Antonio Galloni
on The Hilt

Winemaker – Matt Dees
There are three things critical to the understanding of transparent varieties such as
chardonnay and pinot noir: an understanding of terroir (dirt/climate foremost among
them), an attuned sense of stylistic intention and deft touch in the cellar. Armed with a
degree in Soil Science from the University of Vermont, The Hilt's winemaker, Matt Dees'
approach is grounded in the vineyard first and foremost. His attention to the subtle
differences found between chardonnay and pinot noir due to clonal selections and site
informs the sides of The Hilt's philosophy. And last but not least, Matt's fine hand with
the wines in the cellar allows the precise expression of both Old Guard characteristics
and Vanguard elements to emerge.

When Matt's not exploring this duality in chardonnay and pinot noir, he can be found
making the wines for its sister winery—Jonata.