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The Napa Valley may be known for its cabernet sauvignon-based wines, but for those of us who like to take the wine road less travelled, Napa's Coombsville AVA evokes images of exquisite pinot noir.
Situated in the southeastern part of the Napa Valley, Coombsville is a horseshoe-shaped valley nestled between the eastern shores of the Napa River and the western ridgeline of the Vaca mountain range. It benefits from the cooling effects of San Pablo Bay to the south, which mitigates the bright sunshine and allows the fruit to retain acidity as it ripens.
This is the home of Haynes Vineyard, a single-vineyard, single-estate property renowned as the crown jewel of Coombsville, possessing a combination of climate conditions and history that make its terroir unique: a patchwork of soils, including diatomaceous earth and volcanic rock, an early planting of the famous Wente clone of chardonnay, and a position as the coolest site in Coombsville, ideal for the cultivation of cool-climate grapes.*
The Lawrence family is only the third family to own the vineyard, purchasing it from the Whitford/Haynes family, who bought it from Napa City founder Nathan Coombs in the late 19th century. In 1967, the Haynes family granted the legendary André Tchelistcheff permission to plant pinot noir and chardonnay vines here, now the oldest in Napa Valley.*
The Haynes Vineyard team works every aspect of grape cultivation on these acres in the sleepy volcanic caldera** of Coombsville. The goal is to continue the legacy of good land stewardship and to forge wines that tell the story of place, people, and time.*
Floral, spicy, and aromatic, the 2021 Haynes Vineyard Forgeron Pinot Noir has the structure of Burgundy, but with sun-kissed fruit that rounds out the palate. Planted in 1967 with Louis Martini clones, these vines can live in the world of restraint even in years with heat spikes. Whole cluster-style pinot noir with subtle oak aging and higher acidity due to the cool vineyard site results in a fully ripe and balanced pinot noir. *
This viticulturally rich terrain is the home of Haynes Vineyard, a single-vineyard, single-estate property. The vineyard is renowned as the crown jewel of Coombsville, possessing a combination of climate conditions and history that make its terroir entirely unique: a patchwork of soils, including diatomaceous earth and volcanic rock, an early planting of the famous Wente clone of chardonnay, and a position as the coolest site in Coombsville, ideal for the cultivation of cool-climate grapes.*
The Lawrence family is only the third family to own the vineyard, purchasing it from the Whitford/Haynes family, who bought it from Napa City founder Nathan Coombs in the late 19th century. In 1967, the Haynes family granted the legendary André Tchelistcheff permission to plant pinot noir and chardonnay vines here, now the oldest in Napa Valley.*
Press:
96 points, James Suckling:
"Bright aromas of hibiscus with citrus and roses. So floral. Medium-bodied with a brightness and crunchiness. From a very low-density vineyard of Martini clones, planted in 1967."
95 points, Decanter:
"A textural marvel of a wine with incredible aromatics and complex flavors. Rich, lifted cherry notes, cedarwood, brown spices, and cherry cola. Cedar-laced tannins cling to the palate, and the juicy acidity makes for a delicious pinot noir. It is a barrel selection of the best lots in the cellar."
94 points, Vinous:
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Forgeron is gorgeous. Bright and floral, with terrific energy, the 2021 is immediately captivating. Lifted floral accents open first, followed by sweet red-toned fruit, spice, cedar, and sweet pipe tobacco. There's a good bit of whole clusters, but the stems aren't obvious at all in the flavor profile-just the tannic feel and overall structure. Evocative of a Martini pinot from Monte Rosso, this old-school Napa pinot from the 1967 planting is just beautiful."
Order the 2021 Haynes Vineyard Forgeron Pinot Noir between now and Wednesday, December 10th, at 4:00 PM. Orders will be ready for pickup on Friday, December 12th, after 4 PM.
ABV: 12.21%
*adapted from winery and importer notes
**A caldera is a large, cauldron-like depression in the ground, formed when a volcano's magma chamber empties during a massive eruption, causing the overlying ground to collapse inwards, creating a huge basin
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