Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2022

This cuvée comes from the Russian River Valley, in Sonoma County, California. It blends grapes from the Owsley and Vine Hill vineyards, complemented by a touch of Les Pierres. At Owsley, the wide swings between warm days and cool, foggy nights concentrate the aromas, while at Vine Hill, more than 120 metres of elevation change offer a mosaic of ridges, slopes and dells. The very dry 2022 vintage was saved by a mild summer and the return of the fog.

The grapes are picked by hand in the early morning, sorted and then gently destemmed. After a four-day cold soak, fermentation lasts eight to twelve days in small open-top tanks, with manual punching down. The wine is pressed in a basket press and then aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, one-third of them new, before bottle ageing.

This wine reveals notes of cranberry, cherry, raspberry, cola, black tea, vanilla, warm spices and fresh earth. Bright red fruit comes with a spicy oak touch and earthy nuances. The well-structured palate reveals fine, silky tannins, balanced acidity, a juicy core and a finish of fine length.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...). In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public. Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.