Black Stallion Heritage Pinot Noir 2023

This structured and 'classic' red wine originates from the United States, within the cool-climate Los Carneros AVA, which straddles the southern boundaries of both Napa and Sonoma valleys in California. Black Stallion Estate Winery; situated along the historic Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, is named in honor of the equestrian center that once stood on the property. The winery operates under a winemaking philosophy that values regional authenticity and precise lot selection, leveraging the unique maritime conditions of the region to bring balance to the fruit. Rooted in the thin clay loam soils of the rolling Carneros hillsides, the vines are exposed to daily cooling blanket fogs and sweeping breezes from the nearby San Pablo Bay, naturally slowing the ripening cycle to capture elegant complexity.

Wine Description

The Black Stallion Estate Heritage Los Carneros Pinot Noir presents a beautiful, translucent ruby-plum color in the glass. Its sensory profile is highly expressive, inviting, and fruit-forward, opening with a lush bouquet of ripe strawberries, Bing cherries, and dark plums, beautifully layered with fragrant notes of dried violets, cloves, and mocha, along with a delicate touch of toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is medium-to-full-bodied, soft, and velvety, showcasing a plump core of sweet black cherries, pomegranate, and warm baking spices. It is characterized by its outstanding balance of ripe fruit and a pleasingly fresh acidity that gives it excellent definition. The mouthfeel is smooth and open-knit, driven by round, black tea-like tannins that carry into a long, spicy finish highlighted by lingering notes of earth, nutmeg, and cola spice.

This 100% Pinot Noir reaches a well-balanced alcohol content (ABV) of 14.5%. Following a traditional temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine undergoes complete malolactic fermentation to develop its signature supple, mellow texture. The wine is typically aged for several months in premium French oak barrels (utilizing roughly 39% new wood depending on the vintage) to integrate its fine structural framework while maintaining the cool-climate fruit character. While the estate champions natural biodiversity and sustainable viticulture across its vineyard selections, this bottling is not certified organic.