2018 LA VAILLANCE LOS CARNEROS PINOT NOIR The 2018 La Vaillance Los Carneros Pinot Noir is built on a deliberate contrast of vineyard sources within Carneros, designed to highlight the variety’s range and precision. The wine brings together concentrated hillside fruit with firmer, brighter berries from a flatland site closer to the wetlands of San Pablo Bay. These geographically distinct parcels experience strong maritime influence, where persistent winds and cool air moderate ripening and preserve natural acidity. The resulting tension between richness and freshness is central to the wine’s character, unified through careful blending that respects the contribution of each site. Pinot Noir’s versatility is one of its defining traits, capable of expressing dramatically different personalities depending on site and intent. In Los Carneros, that versatility is shaped by cool temperatures, wind exposure, and long growing seasons, all of which favor balance over excess. La Vaillance approaches Pinot Noir with this context firmly in mind, crafting the wine in a focused, medium-bodied style that emphasizes structure, clarity, and restraint rather than overt power. The 2018 vintage captures the influence of Los Carneros with a profile that is composed and expressive, showing harmony between fruit, acidity, and texture. Maritime freshness frames the wine’s core, lending lift and definition while allowing nuance to emerge gradually. The result is a Pinot Noir that reflects both place and thoughtful winemaking, delivering a level of balance and character that consistently overperforms relative to its price and reinforces Carneros’ reputation for producing refined, site-driven Pinot Noir.