District 7 Pinot Noir 2022

District 7 Pinot Noir comes from Monterey County on California's central coast, where the Scheid family have grown grapes since 1972. Monterey is cooled by fog and ocean breezes funnelling in through the Salinas Valley, giving one of the longest, slowest growing seasons in California. That extended hang time lets Pinot Noir ripen gently while keeping acidity and aromatic detail, the conditions this delicate, thin-skinned grape needs. The vineyards are farmed organically. After fermentation the wine spends twelve months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannins and adds a measured frame of sweet spice and vanilla without masking the fruit. Malolactic fermentation rounds the acidity and lends a supple, silky texture. The wine is medium ruby and medium bodied, with a nose of ripe cherry, raspberry and red plum over clove, a touch of vanilla and a forest-floor earthiness. The palate is smooth and fresh, with fine soft tannin and a savoury, lightly spiced finish. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees. It is a natural with duck, roast poultry, salmon and mushroom dishes.