A World of Knowledge
Ryan Deovlet travelled far and wide, learning from the best names in winemaking before planting his own roots in the cool climate region of Santa Rita Hills, California. Inspired first by his introduction to single-plantation coffee in Hawai’i, Ryan quickly fell in love with the idea of translating the elemental language of farming and terroir into wine. Working across Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and the Central Coast of California, Ryan honed his knowledge and skills before venturing out on his own in 2008.
Wine writer Antonio Galloni calls Ryan “one of the most exciting young winemakers in the central coast…his wines, which emerge from some of the top sites in Santa Barbara, are impeccable, pure and wonderfully transparent to site.”
Those vineyard sites are the very best in the region – Zotovich Family Vineyards, La Encantada Vineyard and Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, as well as two sites in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA – in a part of California that was not well-known until the mid 1990s, although the Sanford & Benedict vineyard was planted in 1971. Long thought of as being too cool for growing quality grapes, Ryan understood the potential in a place that is now widely recognized as one of the world’s best cool-climate viticulture areas for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
A combination of marine-based soils rich in calcium and the cooling influence of fog and wind off the Pacific Ocean ensures perfectly balanced fruit. At each vineyard and during each vintage, Ryan carefully manages the vines, restricting yields in an effort to achieve the ultimate concentration of flavours. The exceptionally high quality of the fruit is the key to producing wines with elegance and harmony, wines that are a perfect reflection of place and of Ryan’s skill in combining the best of the world with the best of California.
Deovlet 2019 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict, Santa Rita Hills
Retail $77.95 / btl (6btl/cs)
Deovlet 2018 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara
Retail $73.95 / btl (6btl/cs)
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The Wines
Deovlet 2019 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict, Santa Rita Hills
Wonderfully tuned in a tight, crystalline, vibrant blend between two outstanding vineyard sources in the Sta. Rita Hills (Zotovich Family and Sanford & Benedict). This wine sings with notes of lemon curd, citrus blossom, Bartlett pear, graham cracker, turmeric, cashew nut, and hints of nutmeg. Bright acidity keeps this wine light on its feet, with intense depth, length, nuance, and complexity.
90 points – Wine & Spirits Magazine, November 2021
“Deovlet’s appellation wine is less structured than his single vineyard chardonnays, but it’s delicious in its own right, with scents of halvah and caramel, and flavors to match. The wine is held within a terse structure, leading to a finish that hints at white flowers.”
Deovlet 2018 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara
Capturing the region with its wonderful balance, vibrancy, and richness this Santa Barbara County offering has beautiful complexity with a mélange of red fruit, blood orange, juicy red plum, earthy undertones alongside baking spices, floral notes, wild herbs, and hints of crushed rock. The wine offers pure varietal identity with layered complexities from each site, good concentration, and lovely freshness supported by a silky texture completing the wines seamless length.
93 points – Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com, August 2021
“The appellation 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County is a beauty and certainly holds up to the single vineyard releases. Medium-bodied, ripe, balanced, and graceful on the palate, it has complex, spice-laced aromas and flavors of black cherries, leather, spice cabinet, and tea leaves. I love its balance, and it’s a seamless Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir from a great winemaker that readers will love. This cuvée comes from the Zotovich, La Encantada, and Sanford & Benedict vineyards, was completely destemmed, and spent 15 months in 25% new French oak.”
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About Deovlet
Ryan Deovlet has an inspired route to the world of winemaking, owning and operating his own winery. It was set off while visiting family in Kona, Hawai’i where the memorable flavour of single-plantation coffee opened Ryan’s mind to a whole new universe. In 2004, once bitten by the ‘ag-bug’, his route took him firstly to the Willing Workers on Organic Farms program, where he was able to learn and work across vineyards in Australia and New Zealand, and then it landed him working harvest at Turramurra Estate in the Mornington Peninsula. From there he travelled to Central Otago and Hawkes Bay to prune and work alongside vineyard crews.
Upon his return to California in 2005, Ryan spent 2 years with Central Coast legend Stephen Dooley, owner/winemaker of Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. From here his continued thirst for knowledge lead him to become assistant winemaker at Red Car Wine Company. It was here that he was able to tap into the minds of consulting winemaker David Ramey, renowned winegrower Ulises Valdez and sought-after soil scientist Dr. Daniel Roberts. A stint followed in Argentina under the tutelage of renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs at Vina Cobos in Mendoza.
Finally, the time was right. In 2008, Ryan sat in front of Richard Sanford and shared his desire to source from one of the pioneers of California Pinot Noir. Deovlet Wines was born with two tons (100 +/- cases) of Pinot Noir from La Encantada Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
We were delighted and thrilled when Ryan was introduced to us by one of the icons of the California wine industry – Philip Togni. And it didn’t take us long to get some samples in our hands to try. Needless to say, we were duly impressed.
Ryan continues to source from exceptional sites in Sta. Rita Hills (Zotovich Family Vineyards, La Encantada Vineyard and Sanford & Benedict Vineyard) as well as two sites in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA.
Fruit quality is essential to crafting memorable wines of elegance, balance, and harmony. At each of his vineyard sites, during each vintage, the vines are carefully managed, and yields are restricted in an effort to achieve the ultimate concentration of flavours.
NEW! Order online at TheVineAgency.ca.
You can also email wine@thevineagency.ca or call 416.693.7994. We’d love to chat about wine with you!
