As the spring of 2024 brings the excitement of a new vintage into focus, I am pleased to introduce you to the wines from two remarkable vintages: 2021 and 2022. The 2021 ‘Les Pavots’ showcases the depth and refinement of Bordeaux reds from our Knights Valley terroir, while the 2022 Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Bordeaux whites exhibit a compelling combination of concentration and freshness that leap from the glass. Enjoy!
—Robert Fiore, Winemaker
Following some rains in January and February, the 2021 growing season was drier than normal, with a slightly early budbreak and bloom. During bloom and fruit set, variable weather conditions resulted in less fruit setting, which, combined with small berry size, lead to some of the lowest yields per acre in recent years. The 2021 growing season was exceptionally mild without significant heat events, which allowed the fruit to ripen perfectly, with harvest spanning from September 25 to October 18. The small berries and clusters produced concentrated, rich flavors in the grapes, juice, and wine.
After an adequate amount of rain in December preceding the 2022 growing season, January and February were both dry, which triggered a slightly early budbreak in the Chardonnay vineyards. An early spring frost tempered potential yields. During bloom, the weather was highly variable, culminating in an early May storm that brought hail, snow, and rain, which dramatically reduced fruit set and ultimately yields for all the Chardonnay blocks. A moderate July was followed by some heat spikes in August and record high temperatures during several days in early September, followed by a temperate last half of September. The Chardonnay harvest began on August 15 and was completed on October 4.
After December brought a respectable amount of rain, January and February were fairly dry, and budbreak occurred slightly earlier than normal. Cool and rainy weather in March, April, and the beginning of May resulted in less fruit setting and a lower-yielding year, very similar to 2021. While July was moderate, June and August both witnessed three-digit heat spikes. The early September heat wave saw one day with temperatures over 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in the last two Sauvignon Blanc blocks to be harvested. However, rain soon followed, and temperatures dropped significantly, allowing the Sémillon to gradually ripen to perfection in early October.
The Sauvignon Blanc harvest commenced on August 25 and finished September 7, and the Sémillon harvest was from October 4 to 11.
At Seaview, less rainfall than usual led to a drier-than-normal 2022 growing season and an early budbreak. The weather during bloom was highly variable, which caused extremely low fruit set, resulting in yields less than half the normal crop at Seaview. Although the majority of the ripening season was moderate, as harvest approached, temperatures increased, with unusually high heat compressing the range of picking dates to just over one week from September 9 to 16.
Less than 7 inches (17.8 centimeters) of rain fell over the winter of 2022 in the Santa Lucia Highlands, which is below normal. The drier soils and a very windy early spring resulted in budbreak starting nearly two weeks early, which set the stage for an earlier-than-normal bloom, fruit set, and harvest. The 2022 growing season was slightly warmer than usual, and harvest took place on September 3, nearly three weeks earlier than the cooler 2021 harvest.
Les Pavots, French for “the poppies,” was named by Lady Michael after the wild California poppies that color the landscape of the Knights Valley ranch. The vineyard is planted on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena, delivering distinct aromas and flavors that characterize our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago, contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 64 acres (26 hectares), the Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.
La Carrière, French for “the quarry,” reflects the vineyard’s spoon shape and tremendously rocky soils. Situated between 1,200 and 1,700 feet (366 and 518 meters) above sea level on steep mountain slopes exceeding 40 percent in grade, the vineyard has ideal southern and southeastern exposures. The shallow, rocky soils provide excellent drainage with restricted fertility, resulting in lower fruit yields with profound richness and character. ‘La Carrière’ provides a signature complexity and liquid minerality from its mountainous origin.
Belle Côte, French for “beautiful slope,” was named by Sir Peter, after the famous ski run in Courchevel, France. The oldest of the four Knights Valley Estate Chardonnay vineyards, ‘Belle Côte’ consistently exemplifies the potential of crafting exceptionally high-quality Chardonnay from our mountain vineyards. Planted at 1,700 to 1,800 feet (518 to 549 meters), Belle Côte has a southeastern exposure and a western border of native trees, which shelter the vines from the hot afternoon sun. These unique attributes create a naturally cool microclimate that provides an extended growing period and slow-ripening fruit, resulting in a later picking schedule that often continues into October (two to three weeks longer than most Chardonnay vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties).
‘Cuvée Indigène,’ a reference to indigenous yeast fermentation, is a top-barrel selection from the Belle Côte vineyard, blended with exceptional barrels from Ma Belle-Fille and La Carrière vineyards. With each vintage, the winemaker intends to capture a true expression of Chardonnay from the Knights Valley Estate, emphasizing the profile of select vineyard blocks planted to the Old Wente clone.
‘Coeur à Coeur’ offers a profound expression of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. These white Bordeaux varieties grow alongside the red Bordeaux varieties in the L’Après-Midi vineyard blocks of our Knights Valley Estate. The fruit is hand-harvested and sorted, whole-cluster pressed, and naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation is conducted to preserve a vibrant acidity. Both varieties are aged separately on their lees for eight to nine months with gentle bâtonnage before the assembly of the final cuvée, a 50–50 percent blend.
‘Le Caprice, as in “capricious,” is an ode to the fickle nature of the Pinot Noir grape. Situated between 1,000 and 1,450 feet (305 and 442 meters) above sea level on steep mountain slopes, some exceeding 50 percent in grade, the vineyard faces east and northeast. It benefits from both the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean to the west and the mild, sunny mountain climate. The soil of the vineyard is a composite of clay, silt, and volcanic gravels, which help the wine display polished tannins, body, and a hint of mineral graphite. ‘Le Caprice’ delivers the most pronounced profile of red fruit of our three estate Pinot Noir wines.
‘Le Moulin Rouge’ provides a showy contrast to the Seaview Estate Pinot Noirs. This Pinot Noir is sourced from the acclaimed Pisoni Vineyard, nestled on the east-facing, gentle slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County. The wine delivers lush flavors and a signature soft, silky texture, delicate yet complex—all derived from the vineyard’s coastal soil and climate. The clone, originally selected from Burgundy’s Grand Cru, produces naturally small clusters and berries, fashioning a wine with opulent perfume and distinct varietal expression. The profile of the fruit is retained with gentle, manual punch-downs while the barrel-aging regimen contributes to the wine’s integrated tannins.
