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

Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1992 by Don and Jenny Hartford, with the first crush arriving in 1994 from a small handful of Pinot Noir and old vine Zinfandel lots. Jenny is the daughter of Jess Jackson, and the estate operates today as part of Jackson Family Wines, drawing on relationships with low yielding vineyards across the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Carneros. Sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming underpin the program, with tight vine spacing and dry farming used to concentrate flavor across the roughly twenty single vineyard bottlings the winery produces each year.

Sevens Bench takes its name from Hartford's historic label for this Carneros site, planted mainly to the Mount Eden selection of Pinot Noir alongside Calera, Batto, and Entav 809 clones. The vines grow in Haire clay loam over an uplifted ancient riverbed, a structure that drains well despite the region's heavier soils and helps concentrate the small berries the site is known for.

The 2022 shows a riper, savory side, with iron-tinged earth, dried cherry, and a touch of menthol on the nose. The palate is plush and mineral driven, carrying light gamey richness and ripe tannins through a clean finish. Try it with grilled quail, roasted pork tenderloin, or aged Gruyère.