Winemaker Notes
The 2018 The Vice Pinot Noir jumps off the glass with aromas of berry bramble, mulberry with hints of lilac and violet. The palate is round and generous with layers of mouth-enveloping ripe berries, rhubarb, dried cherries and equally imposing tannins. This is an especially muscular style of Napa Pinot. All the elements meld together effortlessly with secondary flavors of bittersweet chocolate and Provence herbs that lead into a long, silky and smooth finish.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.