Winemaker Notes
Le Caprice is easily identifiable by its deep ruby color and bright crimson tinge. It shows intense aromas of raspberry liqueur, red cherry and blackberry mixed with Russian leather, violet and graphite. The palate is expressive and delivers Grillottes cherry, sandalwood, raspberry, wild strawberry, forest floor, hazelnut, mussels and leather, with a background of black truffle and raspberry liqueur. The texture is round, tactile and mineral driven. Approachable now, the wine will handsomely reward two years of patience, and will continue to develop for a decade or more.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Pinot Noir Le Caprice is flat out gorgeous! Black cherries, currants, toasted oak, caramelized raspberries, and exotic flower notes all soar from the glass of this rich, full-bodied, yet elegant, seamless Pinot Noir. It has fine, fine tannin, no hard edges, beautiful intensity, and a gorgeous finish. It shows more and more forest floor and earthy/leather notes with time in the glass and is a world-class, elegant, seamless, gorgeous wine.
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James Suckling
This is very fruity and floral with blue fruit, raspberries and cherries, as well as orange peel. Medium to full body, with silky and refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Needs time to come together, but already so beautiful. Try after 2022.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir le Caprice has a gorgeous perfume of red roses, lavender and black cherries with nuances of raspberry leaves, dried herbs, cinnamon stick and mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has great intensity with plenty of cherry and spicy layers supported by seamless acid and firm, fine tannins, finishing with lingering savory and anise notes. Rating 93-95.
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Wine Spectator
Sturdy, snappy and zesty, this unfolds from a tight core to a more open-knit expression of earthy raspberry, licorice and wild berry flavors. Long and complete. Drink now through 2025.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.