Chanin Wild King Pinot Noir 2021

VinousThe 2021 Pinot Noir Wild King is a new wine from a site in Santa Maria that had essentially been abandoned until a small group of producers took over the farming for 2021. Bright acids drive through a core of red/purplish fruit, mint and sage. The Wild King lives up to its name with an eccentric, intensely aromatic profile. Despite very small berries, alcohol here is only 12%. I can only describe the 2021 as a mind-bending Pinot.

Gavin Chanin describes 2021 as a mostly cool, sunny year, with cool weather also during flowering that resulted in smaller berries with thicker skins. The wines are gorgeous. The Chardonnays are pressed to barrel, with no settling, where they stay for 13-14 months before being racked for the first time and moved back into wood. Pinot Noirs typically see 35-50% whole clusters, but stems are rarely a pronounced signature. The Chanin wines stand out for their understated finesse and elegance. In 2021, the Chardonnays are especially fine.