2023 Vivier - Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain Van der Kamp Vineyard (750ml)

Vivier Wines was founded by Stéphane Vivier, the winemaker handpicked by Aubert de Villaine, co-director of Burgundy's legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, to lead his California venture, Hyde de Villaine. That pedigree shapes Vivier's own label, where a Burgundian sensibility guides the search for California's most distinctive, high-elevation Pinot Noir sites. The result has drawn comparisons to some of the state's most celebrated producers, with critics placing Vivier's single-vineyard bottlings alongside blue-chip names in California Pinot Noir.

Van der Kamp Vineyard sits at 1,500 feet on a north-facing bench of Sonoma Mountain, a site considered sacred ground by local Native American tribes and farmed organically for decades by Ulysses van der Kamp. The vines here date back to 1952, making it one of California's oldest continuously producing Pinot Noir sites, rooted in volcanic loam and decomposed riverbed soils with notably thin topsoil. Fruit from these old vines brings natural concentration and a strong sense of place without need for heavy-handed winemaking.

The 2023 vintage offers an expressive burst of light red fruit, flowers, and a touch of earth and forest on the nose. The palate delivers cherry and baking spice alongside red apple, earth, and lingering, fine-grained tannins. It pairs beautifully with roasted king salmon, herb-crusted pork chops, or a spread of soft cheeses.