The Hilt : Estate Pinot Noir 2023

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2023

Tasting

Colour

This Estate Pinot Noir reveals a deep ruby colour with purple highlights, hinting at a concentrated wine.

Nose

The nose is expressive, unveiling a bouquet of ripe black and red fruits, enhanced by a palette of exotic spices. Saline, vegetal notes evoking dried seaweed mingle with more indulgent touches of cocoa, cinnamon, dried mushrooms and fine charcuterie, against a backdrop of soft tobacco and black cherry.

Palate

The attack is generous and ample, carried by flavours of ripe red raspberry and slightly tangy black plum. The silky, supple texture rests on a fine, delicate structure, in which power and elegance respond to one another in harmony. The long finish is carried by notes of fleshy black fruit and dry earth.

Food and wine pairing

This Estate Pinot Noir is an ideal match for roast poultry, particularly when served with mushrooms, as well as for duck-based dishes. Its saline, umami notes also pair well with Japanese-inspired cuisine, while its spicy touches complement dishes seasoned with cinnamon or sweet spices. It also lends itself to vegetarian pairings, such as mushroom risottos or roasted root vegetables.

Serving and cellaring

The Estate Pinot Noir 2023 is best served at a temperature between 14 and 16°C, ideally in a Burgundy-style glass to help express its aromas. A light decanting can allow it to open up further.

The Hilt Estate, a coastal Pinot Noir shaped by Pacific winds

The estate

The Hilt Estate is a wine estate located in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, in California. It is owned by Ann and Stan Kroenke, who also own the Jonata and Screaming Eagle estates. Technical direction is overseen by winemaker Matt Dees, who has developed a precise parcel-by-parcel approach on this coastal terroir shaped by Pacific winds and frequent fog. In 2014, the estate acquired a large property encompassing the Bentrock, Radian and Puerta del Mar vineyards, the foundation of its current production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The vineyard

This Estate Pinot Noir comes mainly from the Bentrock and Radian vineyards, located in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The vines grow on a mosaic of soils including diatomaceous earth, sandy loams and more clayey or schistous areas. This American vineyard benefits from sustainable, organically inspired farming practices, with synthetic herbicides and pesticides abandoned and extensive soil work, respecting this cool, windy terroir.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage is described by the estate as particularly remarkable, allowing all of the property's wines to express themselves fully. The year's climatic conditions favoured balanced ripening of the grapes, preserving the terroir's characteristic freshness while developing beautiful aromatic concentration.

Winemaking and ageing

The Estate Pinot Noir 2023 is made with a moderate proportion of whole-cluster fruit, around 5 to 10%, adding structure and aromatic complexity. It is aged for eleven months in French oak barrels, a portion of which are new, in order to preserve the expression of the fruit while providing a subtle framework.

Grape variety

This wine is made from Pinot Noir.