2022 Artesa Estate Pinot Noir Los Carneros 750 ml

Artesa sits on a knoll above the fog line in Los Carneros, with views that sweep out toward San Pablo Bay. It’s one of the most-visited spots in the Valley, and it’s been there since 1991—which means it has been farming Carneros Pinot Noir longer than most of its neighbors have been in business.

What’s less obvious from the outside is who’s behind it: Codorníu, one of the oldest and most resourced wine companies on earth, a Spanish dynasty that has been making wine since 1551 and counts itself among the largest producers of méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine in the world.

We say this not to impress you with the corporate pedigree, but because it matters in the glass. When a winery of Artesa’s backing decides to make Pinot Noir in Los Carneros, they don’t have to cut corners. They can farm the estate fruit the way it should be farmed, hire the right winemaker, and take whatever time the wine needs. There’s no scrambling for resources, no compromising on equipment, no pressure to rush a release.

Paula Borgo, Artesa’s Director of Winemaking, is originally from Argentina, and spent more than 15 years as head winemaker at Bodega Séptima in Mendoza before bringing her precision-focused approach to Carneros. That South American sensibility—respect for the fruit, trust in the site, a philosophy that leans on intuition as much as technique—shows up clearly in this Pinot Noir.

In the glass, the 2022 is deep ruby, vibrant and clear. The nose opens with red roses, black cherry, and wild red berries, with kola nut and a whisper of forest floor underneath. On the palate, it’s juicy and medium-bodied with a lively herbal thread running through the mid-palate—the hallmark of a great Carneros Pinot—silky tannins, and a finish that lingers well beyond what you’d expect.