2023 Platt Vineyard Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

The 2023 Platt Vineyard Estate Reserve Pinot Noir is among the most impressive Pinot Noirs currently produced on the West Sonoma Coast. This top cuvée is composed of the best plots at Platt Vineyard and demonstrates why this exceptional vineyard is considered by many connoisseurs to be one of the greatest Pinot Noir sites in the United States. The combination of a cool growing season, extremely low yields, and meticulous selection results in a wine with exceptional depth, precision, and aging potential.

Platt Vineyard: one of the great terroirs of California

Platt Vineyard is located on the cool West Sonoma Coast, just a few kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. The area is characterized by misty mornings, cooling sea breezes, and one of the longest growing seasons in California. As a result, the grapes retain their natural freshness while simultaneously being able to ripen fully.

The vineyard was established at the beginning of this century by Lew and Joan Platt and quickly grew into a beloved source for some of California's most respected winemakers. Producers such as Littorai, Failla, Radio-Coteau, and Ramey made a name for themselves with grapes from this special location.

Since the acquisition by AXA Millésimes in 2022, Platt Vineyard has been managed entirely as an estate. Under the leadership of winemaker Derek Flegal and with the support of Thomas Rivers Brown, the focus is on bringing out the unique terroir of this exceptional vineyard to the fullest.

For more information about Platt Vineyard, please refer to the Winery tab.

2023 vintage: cool, slow, and exceptionally precise

The 2023 vintage is now considered one of the most promising harvest years of recent times on the Sonoma Coast. A wet winter was followed by an exceptionally cool spring, causing bud formation, flowering, and fruit set to occur weeks later than normal.

The summer also remained relatively cool. As a result, ripening proceeded slowly and evenly, resulting in grapes with exceptional aromatic precision. The harvest took place between October 4 and 26, one of the last harvest periods of the decade.

Yields were particularly low, with only about one ton of Pinot Noir per acre. This natural limitation resulted in grapes with enormous concentration and depth without loss of freshness or elegance.

The wine was produced from the Pinot Noir clones Calera, Pommard, 777, and 115. After careful selection, the grapes were fully destemmed and fermented in small open tanks. Subsequently, the wine aged for fourteen months in Burgundian oak barrels, 34% of which were new French oak. The alcohol content is 13.7%.

Scent, taste and character

The 2023 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir presents itself immediately with an impressive aromatic intensity. Aromas of black cherries, blackberries, wild strawberries, and pomegranate are supported by refined notes of blood orange, violets, lavender, and sage.

Behind this, ever-new layers of cedarwood, fresh leather, black tea, liquorice, clove, cinnamon, and subtle pine needles unfold. The complexity continues to develop the longer the wine stands in the glass.

On the palate, this Pinot Noir displays a striking combination of power and finesse. The wine possesses tremendous concentration and density without becoming heavy. The core of dark fruit is supported by a firm mineral structure that provides focus and tension.

The tannins are exceptionally fine yet very present. Currently, the wine is clearly still in a youthful phase where structure is dominant. As bottle aging progresses, the wine will further blossom and develop additional complexity.

Despite its power, the wine remains energetic, refined, and transparent. It is precisely this combination of concentration, freshness, and precision that makes the 2023 Estate Reserve one of the most complete Pinot Noirs Platt Vineyard has produced to date.

The finish is long, mineral, and impressively layered, with persistent notes of black fruit, blood orange, spices, and floral nuances that linger for minutes.

Professional reviews

The international wine press immediately placed the 2023 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir among the absolute top of the West Sonoma Coast.

Vinous: 98 points (Antonio Galloni)
Galloni calls the wine one of the most impressive Pinot Noirs of the region. He praises the enormous density, power, and complexity and describes Platt Vineyard as one of the very greatest vineyard sites in the United States. According to him, the wine needs time to show its full potential.

James Suckling: 97 points
Suckling praises the exceptional energy, tension, and precision of the wine. Aromas of black cherries, strawberries, flowers, and spices are combined with ultra-fine tannins and an impressive structure. According to him, a few years of bottle aging will refine the wine even further.

The combination of these ratings confirms the Estate Reserve's status as one of California's most ambitious Pinot Noirs.

The Estate Reserve is the flagship of Platt Vineyard's Pinot Noir production. Only the best lots of the vintage are selected for this cuvée, giving the wine unprecedented concentration and precision.

For lovers of great Pinot Noir, this wine offers a fascinating combination of Californian intensity and Burgundian refinement. The exceptional location of the vineyard, the low yields, and the quality of the vintage make this one of the most interesting Pinot Noir purchases in California.

At Grandcruwijnen, you will find a carefully selected assortment of the best Californian wines. All wines are stored under optimal conditions and can be shipped or picked up at our store in Dordrecht.