2023 Samuel Louis Smith - Pinot Noir Michaud Chalone Vineyard (750ml)

Sam Smith caught the wine bug while studying French in Bordeaux, a homestay that reshaped his path away from international business and into the cellar. He cut his teeth at Brander Vineyard, then spent years as assistant winemaker under Doug Margerum before a stint working the Northern Rhône for François Villard. In 2016 he landed at Morgan Winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands, working alongside pioneering organic farmer Dan Lee for eight years while quietly building his own label on the side, Samuel Louis Smith, which he took on full time in 2024. His wines focus on high-elevation, cool-climate, organically farmed sites across the Central Coast.

This is Smith's first vintage from Michaud Vineyard, planted in 1995 by Michael Michaud, the former head winemaker at Chalone Vineyard, at 1,550 feet on the arid, high-desert edge of the Chalone AVA near Pinnacles National Park. The site's decomposed granite soils and dramatic swing between hot days and cold, clear nights push the fruit toward an earthy, structured expression rather than pure ripeness. Just 73 cases were produced, fermented with roughly half whole clusters and finished at a notably low 12.7 percent alcohol.

The wine is light red in color, with tart red berries, dried rose, and dark black cherry layered over garrigue-like wild herb and black olive notes. Chalky tannins and fresh acidity carry through a long, earthy finish with a subtle mineral echo. Its savory, herb-driven character suits roasted duck breast, wild mushroom pasta, or a Provençal-style lamb.