|
95-97 Points: The Pursuit of Perfection
|
|
 From the buyer
Ryan Woodhouse
10 Ninths is one of the coolest finds of the year for me. For those of you who have been enjoying Sta. Rita Hills wines for many years, you will likely remember Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. Established in the early 2000s, the estate quickly became known for incredibly pure, elegant, aromatic wines that beautifully showcased the cool-climate character and marine-derived soils of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Several years ago, founders John Hilliard and Christine Bruce sold the property, and it became 10 Ninths. New owner Michael Mente brought in an incredible team with the goal of taking this already special estate to another level. Consulting winemaker Frederick Ammons brings decades of experience from Harlan, Rudd, and Nid Tissé. Then, on the advice of Raj Parr, talented young winemaker Alice Anderson of Âmevive was brought in to oversee the day-to-day winemaking, bringing a fresh, contemporary perspective to the wines.
I was recently introduced to the project and was immediately impressed by the entire range. After some back and forth, we hammered out some incredible winery-direct pricing so we could offer these wines through our Insider’s Advantage program. Although 10 Ninths is still a relatively young brand, the quality absolutely speaks for itself, and the critical acclaim is mounting quickly. Fans of Domaine de la Côte, The Hilt, Sandhi, Melville, Tyler, Dragonette, and other top Sta. Rita Hills producers should absolutely check these out—especially at our incredible direct pricing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Critic reviews
| 95 pts · Vinous · August 2025 The 2021 Pinot Noir Radius is a gorgeous wine from a favorable growing season. Velvety berry fruit and elegant structure are the orders of the day. Supple and focused, it is supremely clear and precise, with beautiful curves. Tea leaves, blood orange and sweet black cherry flesh out, expanding like a peacock's tail on the epically long finish. What a beautiful wine. (BN) |
| 94 pts · Wine Enthusiast · February 2026 Tart aromas of pomegranate, cranberry and pine needle make for a fresh, herby nose on this bottling from the new name for the former Hilliard Bruce Vineyard. The palate exhibits the earthy, stemmy style that excels in this appellation, offering more pine needle and seaweed notes against tart red fruit and warm spice flavors, as the acidity and texture lingers long. |
| 93 pts · James Suckling · August 2025 Generous, open-knit aromatics precede a silky palate whose melted tannins have interwoven elegantly with black raspberry compote, star anise, toasted fennel seeds and minerals through the plush yet savory finish. Drink or hold. |
|
| Staff reviews — 2021 10 Ninths "Radius" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir |
|
Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Domestic Wine Buyer · October 1, 2026
A lovely, complex bottle of Pinot Noir that really leans into the genuinely cool-climate nature of the region. There’s no cherry-fruit bomb here. Instead, the wine delivers Amaro-like alpine herbs, black raspberry, pomegranate, bramble leaf, forest floor, and damp earth.
The fruit is expertly interwoven with more nuanced savory elements of coastal chaparral and earthy tones, creating a wine with real intrigue and dimension. It’s drinking beautifully with a few years of bottle age, but still really unfurls with 30 minutes in the decanter. A captivating Pinot Noir. |
|
Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer · September 11, 2026
This elegant, savory Pinot Noir impressed me a lot, but after I saw the price, I really got excited. This tastes like the very expensive stuff from the most sought after producers; it has that great beetroot and black cherry that you can only get from a very cold site, and a long classy finish that you would be surprised to find even in a Pinot that cost twice as much. Don't miss this one! |
|
Kerry Kennell, K&L Staff Member · October 2, 2026
The 10 Ninths Radius Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir was fermented with native yeast and approximately 40% whole cluster in open-top fermenters, with each block kept as a separate lot. The wine reveals the darker, more masculine side of Pinot Noir, with black raspberry, Bing cherry, Assam tea, and hints of tobacco leaf. Fresh, brisk sylvan notions make me think of skipping through the forest in a purple hooded cape on my way to Grandma’s house. My, what lovely tannins you have. Nice and grippy, they make this an ideal companion for a lovely steak dinner! |
|
|
|
|
Critic reviews
| 96 pts · Wine Enthusiast · February 2026 Utterly clean and delicious aromas of lemon meringue, chiseled chalk and chipped flint show on the attention-grabbing nose of this bottling. There's a lively acidity and chalky grip to the palate, where tight Asian pear and jicama flavors align. (MK) |
| 94 pts · James Suckling · August 2025 Warm-flint and nectarine-pit aromas are followed by stone-fruit flesh and a core of minerals. The ripeness of the vintage is wrangled into a structured yet well-fruited palate, a sappy, lingering character riding through the white-flower-kissed finish. |
| 94 pts · Vinous · August 2025 The 2022 Chardonnay Estate is rich and robust, with penetrating sweet almond, marzipan, ripe peach and ginger spice. Inner sweetness and vibrant acidity are beautifully balanced in this impressive effort. A fabulous wine for the vintage. (BN) |
|
| Staff reviews — 2022 10 Ninths "Estate" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay |
|
|
Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Domestic Wine Buyer · October 1, 2026
A wonderfully concentrated and flavorful, yet piercingly fresh expression of Chardonnay from this cold, very sandy site. This wine perfectly captures what many folks in the Sta. Rita Hills refer to as “refrigerated sunshine.” The region enjoys long, dry summers, but is constantly cooled by breezes off the Pacific, allowing the fruit to ripen fully while retaining vibrant acidity.
The wine really shows the crystalline side of Chardonnay, with beautiful nectarine, zesty citrus, chalky minerals, and struck flint. The length on the palate is incredible, with remarkable tension and persistence. Such a delicious bottle, and one that clearly demonstrates the quality of this special site. |
|
|
Kerry Kennell, K&L Staff Member · September 30, 2026
Organically grown and sourced from a renowned property once known as Hilliard Bruce, the 2022 10 Ninths "Estate" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay radiates luxury and elegance. The nose carries beautifully onto the palate: graceful notions of pear tarte Tatin—baked pear layered with caramel, soft spice, and a flaky crust. A vivid lemon zest finish with a touch of orange blossom water keeps the wine on point and ethereal. Whole-cluster pressed and slowly fermented with native yeast, it has a delicateness that shines from entry to finish. |
|
|
|
|
Critic reviews
| 97 pts · Wine Enthusiast This newer producer really starting hitting its stride in the 2023 vintage, as viticultural improvements on the older vines began to take hold. Juicy yet earthy aromas of blackberry, damp sage and mossy soils lead from the nose into a palate that sizzles with nearly prickly acidity. Flavors of sage, olive and brisk fruit ride across leathery tannins, making an mouthwateringly savory sip. |
| 95 pts · Vinous The 2023 Pinot Noir Vertex vibrates with vivid berry fruit and remarkable textural finesse. A wine of supreme inner harmony, it delivers plushness and ripeness in a perfectly calibrated, structured frame. Citrus zest and white pepper add lift. The structure here points to significant positive evolution ahead. Impressive. |
| 94 pts · James Suckling Yummy fruit and warm spice flavors match up with a suave texture in this full-bodied wine. Plenty of black-cherry, black-tea, clove and nutmeg flavors on velvety tannins. Good concentration and a lingering finish. Drink now or hold. |
|
| Staff reviews — 2023 10 Ninths "Vertex" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir |
|
|
Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Domestic Wine Buyer · October 1, 2026
The 2023 Vertex shows the continued potential of this vineyard as the organic and biodynamic farming practices initiated in 2019 continue to elevate the estate. Vertex is a barrel selection of the best lots from across the vineyard’s clonal mix of Calera, Pommard, 667, 115, and 777.
The wine has a touch more purity of fruit than the Radius and feels a little more polished, but the signature of the site remains unmistakable. It’s a wonderfully contemplative wine, melding a brooding fruit profile with savory herbs, pine needles, forest berry compote, and subtle earthy tones.
The palate is suave and sophisticated, with fine tannins and just a subtle kiss of oak spice framing the fruit. This is a spectacular value given our Insider’s Advantage discount and can comfortably sit alongside the crème de la crème of the appellation. |
|
|
Kerry Kennell, K&L Staff Member · October 2, 2026
The 2023 10 Ninths "Vertex" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is an inaugural release composed of clones 777, 667, Pommard, and Calera, drawn from the best block and barrel selections of the estate. Only 140 cases were produced. Given the level of care that went into this wine, our pricing defies logic. Its firm yet lithe tannin structure reminds me of a ballerina, feminine and athletic, with poise and delicacy. Vivid cherry glides into violets, bergamot, Demerara sugar, and a foresty freshness. It would make a lovely pas de deux with Comté or Gruyère on a charcuterie board. At the table, pair it with duck, pork tenderloin, or lentils with roasted root vegetables. |
|
|
