Introduction: The Valliant Pinot Noir is Eden Rift's entry-level expression of the variety that has defined this 120-acre estate since its earliest days — the first Pinot Noir vines were planted here in 1860, among the earliest New World plantings of the variety in California history. Named in homage to the label that thrived at this site under the stewardship of the Hiram Walker spirits house, the Valliant offers an accessible window into what the Cienega Valley's remarkable limestone terroir does to Pinot Noir, produced with the same winemaking philosophy and estate fruit that informs the entire Eden Rift range.

Terroir: As with the Valliant Chardonnay, the fruit comes from Eden Rift's 120-acre estate in the Cienega Valley AVA — sitting atop the San Andreas Fault at 1,000–1,800 feet elevation, 20 miles inland from Monterey Bay. The calcareous, limestone- and dolomite-rich soils running through granitic sandy loam are among the rarest in California and most Burgundian in character of any domestic site. The combination of elevation, maritime cooling from the Pacific, and calcium-rich soils produces Pinot Noir of notably higher natural acidity, mineral precision, and structural tension than warmer, lower-elevation California expressions.

Appearance: Bright, translucent ruby-red — light and vivid with classic cool-climate Pinot Noir clarity.

Nose: Fruit-forward and inviting — wild berries, spiced cranberry, black cherry, and pomegranate lead alongside rose petal, lavender, dried flowers, and a hint of pepper. A subtle wet clay and earthy mineral note from the limestone soils anchors the aromatics with genuine terroir character.

Palate: Medium-bodied with vibrant, persistent acidity and silky, supple tannins. Black cherry, raspberry, boysenberry, and black tea move across a lively, mineral-edged mid-palate with a characteristic chalky tension that lifts the finish and speaks directly to the Cienega Valley's calcareous soils. Winemaker Cory Waller's low-intervention approach — trained under Tony Soter, Josh Bergstrom, and Jim Prosser, with time at Calera — allows the terroir to express itself without winemaking artifice.

Finish: Long, chalky, and refreshing, with lingering red fruit, earth, and a mineral precision that extends well beyond the wine's modest weight.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Roasted duck breast with cherry reduction, grilled lamb chops with herbs, or salmon with lemon and dill.
🥦 Vegetarian: Wild mushroom pasta, roasted beet and goat cheese salad, or a lentil and herb grain bowl.
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Gruyère, mild Brie, duck rillettes, dried cranberries, and toasted hazelnuts.

Overall Impression: A genuinely terroir-driven, estate-grown California Pinot Noir from one of the state's most historically significant sites — lighter in body, more mineral and structured than the typical California Pinot profile, and carrying the clear imprint of Cienega Valley limestone in every sip. Excellent value for what it delivers. Drink now through 2027. Serve at 58–62°F.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 13.9%
Farming Practices: Estate grown; organically farmed; minimal intervention philosophy; low yields; vine stress management
Producer Name: Eden Rift Vineyards (Christian Pillsbury, owner; Cory Waller, winemaker)
Old World / New World: New World
Country of Origin: United States
Region: Central Coast AVA / Cienega Valley AVA, San
Benito County, California (1,000–1,800 feet elevation)
Grape Varietals: Pinot Noir 100% (Mt. Eden, Swan, Calera heritage clones and Dijon clones 115, 667, 777, 828)
Vintage:2022
Wine Style: Dry Red — Light- to medium-bodied, with a restrained, mineral-driven California Pinot Noir profile rooted in limestone terroir. More Burgundian in character than most California Pinot — fresh, precise, and structured rather than fruit-forward or plush — with genuine aging potential from the calcareous soils. 
Winemaking Techniques: Estate fruit; native/spontaneous fermentation; partial whole-cluster inclusion; minimal intervention; aged in French oak (predominantly neutral); low-sulphur approach; bottled unfined or lightly fined
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Screwcap (verify on bottle)