2021 Peter Michael, Clos du Ciel, Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma County, California, USA

Pinot Noir is probably the most frustrating and, at times, infuriating wine grape in the world. However, when it is successful, it can produce some of the most sublime wines known to man. This thin-skinned grape, which grows in small, tight bunches, performs well on well-drained, deepish limestone-based subsoils. It is more susceptible than other varieties to overcropping - concentration and varietal character disappear rapidly if yields are excessive, and yields as little as 25hl/ha are the norm for some climats of Burgundy's Côte d'Or.

Founded in 1982, Peter Michael Winery is situated on the slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in Knights Valley, a subregion of Sonoma County known for its volcanic soil and excellent growing conditions. The winery’s estate vineyards are located at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 feet, providing a diverse range of microclimates and soil types.