2022 Hartford Court - Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Sevens Bench (750ml)

Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1993 by Don and Jennifer Hartford, whose appreciation for Russian River Valley wine country grew into a mission to capture the personality of Sonoma County's most distinctive vineyard sites. The family built their reputation on the belief that character comes through adversity, both in people and in vines, seeking out challenging, high risk sites that yield wines of real individuality. Hartford Court, their small lot, single vineyard label, showcases that philosophy through a range of Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that each express a specific terroir rather than a house style.

Sevens Bench sits on a ridge at roughly two hundred feet elevation in Carneros, part of an ancient uplifted riverbed that provides excellent drainage across the region's characteristic clay soils. The vineyard takes its name from two clones planted on the block, Clone 37 and Dijon 777, with a small amount of Swan Selection Pinot Noir blended in for added complexity. Intensive farming and deliberately low yields are central to the Hartford approach here, concentrating flavor in the fruit and allowing the site's savory, earthy character to come through clearly in the finished wine.

The wine shows dark wild black raspberry and mossy earth, lifted by fresh violet and a savory hint of porcini. The palate is medium bodied with ripe tannins and a snappy, iron tinged finish. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck breast, mushroom risotto, or a simple grilled salmon.