Capiaux Cellars Chimera Pinot Noir - 750ml

Capiaux Cellars Chimera Pinot Noir is produced by Sean Capiaux, who founded Capiaux Cellars in 1994 while working at Peter Michael Winery, establishing a label dedicated to small-lot, single-vineyard and multi-vineyard Pinot Noir from California's premier sites. The Chimera — named for the creature of Greek mythology composed of disparate parts — functions as Capiaux's multi-vineyard expression, drawing from a combination of Russian River Valley and Santa Lucia Highlands sources to produce a wine that reflects both appellations' contributions. The 2023 blend is anchored by 89% from the Starscape Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, supplemented by 5% from Widdoes Vineyard (Russian River Valley), 3% from Pisoni Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands), and 3% from Garys' Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands). The Russian River Valley's cool maritime climate and the Santa Lucia Highlands' high-elevation, fog-influenced growing conditions each contribute distinct aromatic and structural elements to the finished wine.

Capiaux's winemaking approach centers on minimal intervention — native yeast fermentation, no fining, and no filtration — allowing the fruit and site character to present without modification. The wine is aged for eleven months in French oak barrels with only 10% new wood, a restrained use of new oak that introduces subtle structure and complexity without imposing vanilla or toasted wood character on the wine's primary fruit profile. The blend is assembled from components harvested between September 1st and October 23rd — a wide window that reflects the different maturation timelines of the Russian River Valley and higher-elevation Santa Lucia Highlands sites.

The palate opens with a burst of dark red and purplish fruit — ripe cherry, plum, and pomegranate — alongside rose petal, lavender, blood orange, and a note of sweet spice. The texture is juicy and mid-weight, with the supple, silky mouthfeel that Russian River Valley Pinot Noir characteristically produces when picked at proper maturity. The finish is long and vibrant, closing on bright acidity and a lingering fruit-driven warmth that reflects the generous quality of the 2023 California growing season without sacrificing the varietal's characteristic finesse.