Hitching Post Wines
By Tim on Jun 23, 2005 in Pinot Noir, Tasting Notes
On Monday, we had dinner at the Hitching Post II in Buellton, CA. Yes, this is the same place that was a key location in the movie “Sideways”. I stopped by not for the food, but for their wines that are only available at the restaurant or online. The food was surprisingly good (love the meat rub!) and the wines lived up to expecations:
Hartley Ostini-Hitching Post, Pinot Noir, “Highliner” 2003 ($40) their top of the line Pinot from the best lots. Dark ruby color, rasberry and spice nose with tight rasberry and black cherry flavors and some white pepper and oak. Opens up in the glass nicely after 15 minutes. Delicous now but better in a year or two. Score: 9/10
Hartley Ostini-Hitching Post, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara Country 2003 ($24) Deepest garnet color (but the lighting was bad in the dining room), lean black cherry nose, very tight rasberry fruit. Needs some time in the cellar to show it’s best. Score: 8.5/10
Have you tried the 2005 corkdancer? I was very disappointed. Needs alot of cellar time. too late, it’s opened.
No, I have not tried any of the Hitching Post wines since my visit 2 years ago. I’ll look for some on my next trip to California but will cellar them before tasting. Whatever happened to wineries aging their wines and releasing them ready to drink?