Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir 2023 (75cl, 14.5%)

An estate-grown Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir from California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml format. The wine is made from ten distinct Pinot Noir clones planted on the estate, with fruit hand-harvested, cold-soaked for five days and fermented in open-top vessels over a 16- to 28-day maceration; it is bottled with no fining and no filtration. The nose opens with dark cherry and black plum, then violets, lavender and cocoa, with forest-floor earthiness, hazelnut shell and dried thyme. The palate is rich and full, with blueberry and dark plum, then dark chocolate, espresso, clove and Five Spice, supported by firm, structured tannins. The finish is long and resonant, with anise, rose petal, lingering black cherry, pennyroyal minerality, sweet basil and licorice.