As we’ve mentioned before, the Sta. Rita Hills, despite sitting far to the south on the California coast, is one of the state’s coldest climates, a consequence of its transverse valley, which opens directly to the Pacific and channels fog and ocean wind across the vineyards. Santa Barbara native Justin Willett studied art and architectural history at UC Santa Barbara and while apprenticing as assistant winemaker at Arcadian, he founded Tyler in 2005 with a focus on the valley’s most expressive sites. Over the next two decades, Willett developed close relationships with growers who recognized his ability to transmit the Sta Rita Hills terroir. Justin’s extraordinary success--two wines he made as a consulting winemaker (Wenzlau) or partner (Racines) have previously appeared in the club--culminated in Tyler’s acquisition of Fiddlestix Vineyard, planted in 1998 directly across from Sanford & Benedict, and Mae Estate in the northern reaches of the AVA. With the two vineyards positioned in both the north and south of the Sta. Rita Hills, the winery is able to create wines that truly define the AVA. Organically farmed and fermented in open-top oak tanks with one-third whole clusters, aged in French barrique with one-third new oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered, the wine reflects the valley’s signature profile—red fruit purity, florality, cool-climate freshness, and marine sediment minerality. This is elegant wine, suitable for accompanying, what else, California cuisine.