2021 LaRue - Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Charles Heintz Vineyard (750ml)

Charles Heintz Vineyard sits on an exposed ridge near Occidental, a few miles inland from the Pacific. Charlie Heintz is the third generation of his family to farm it, and the ranch dates back to 1912. The vineyard is famous for Chardonnay, but its Pinot Noir rarely carries the vineyard name because most of it has long gone to one large buyer, which makes this bottling a rare find. Wilson fermented the 2021 with 50% whole clusters and aged it twenty months in French oak, half of it new. 2021 was an outstanding vintage for California Pinot Noir.

The wine shows briary berry and strawberry with savory notes of mushroom, damp leaves and spice. It’s built to improve over the next three to five years. Serve it with roast duck or mushroom risotto.