The moment we tasted today’s Carneros Hills 2013 Estate Pinot Noir we fell in love with it.

This wine is a shining example of perfect Carneros Pinot Noir. The Carneros AVA (American Viticultural Area) which was officially designated in 1983, and straddles Sonoma and Napa Counties, is the cradle of California Pinot Noir.

Beautifully fragrant with aromas of cherry cola, red currant, cranberry and twigs, with subtle graphite, dried mushroom, soft spice and a hint of anise.

Complex and lively on the palate, with rich black cherry, cassis, kola, dried cranberry, spice box, dried mushroom, graphite, fennel and slate mineral.

The Carneros Hills Winery Estate Vineyard is comprised of individual blocks which are farmed and harvested to maximize the potential of each mesoclimate within the vineyard site, taking into account the natural variations in vigor and exposure that exist. The ultimate goal of this fine-tuned approach to farming is to find the best expression of the unique qualities of this singular site.

Of particular note, this vineyard displays characteristics which are rarely found in the Carneros district: clay loam soils that are interlaced with chalky rock and gravel derived from ancient uplifted sea-bed. The steep slopes and ridge-top plateaus that possess these distinctive soils are the hallmark of the wine that is made from them.

We invite you to see just how exceptional a Carneros Pinot can be. Today’s wine is one of the best examples we can recall.

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Here’s what the wine press has to say:

90 points - Virgine Boone, Wine Enthusiast - “Another of the producer’s inaugural releases, this hails from the heart of Carneros where vineyards once belonging to Buena Vista had stood. Characteristic of the appellation, the wine is earthy and herbal, with light, crisp waves of grenadine and strawberry, staying light and textured on the palate.”