Big black cherries, plenty of spice, and striking freshness making this quite an imposing pinot noir with a serious tannin structure and an imposing, mineral finish.
94pts James Suckling "This has quite plush and rich complexity with ripe dark cherries and fresh spices. The palate has a juicy, rich and deeply flavorsome feel. A juicy, focused and long, dark-fruit finish. Drink or hold."
Bouchaine's 100-acre estate vineyard lies on the southern border of Napa Valley's Carneros district, overlooking the San Francisco bay with the financial district in the distance. Fog, wine, and the cold night time temperatures of this unique geographical area lend a distinctive regional identity to the Pinot Noir.
Bouchaine is the oldest continuously operating winery in Carneros. Boon Fly planted grapes and fruit trees on the property in the late 1880s and an Italian winemaker, Johnny Garetto, bought the land in 1927 and farmed it until 1961, when he sold to Beringer. It was used as a storage facility for 20 years before being purchased by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland along with 30 additional acres of the surrounding land.
The Copelands revitalized the property with new vineyards, winery improvements, and a renewed sense of purpose. Redwood from early storage tanks were recycled and repurposed into the new façade for the winery and tasting room buildings. John Garetto's original sign from the 1930's was found being used to patch a hole in the roof and is now hung in the Bouchaine Conference room.
Under the Copelands' leadership, Bouchaine has grown from a pair of ramshackle buildings into a thriving vineyard estate.
750ML / 14.4% ABV