Description
2022 Lady of Guadalupe Pinot Noir
Dave Phinney’s first personal estate. Now available in the UK.
This wine marks a significant turning point for Dave Phinney of Orin Swift fame. Known worldwide for creating some of the boldest and most recognisable wines in modern California history, what's almost as storied is his beginnings with just two tons of Zinfandel and a desire to make great wine. Founding Orin Swift, he continued to make superb wines with a variety of different grapes, the roll of honour including Palermo, Papillon, Machete, Mannequin, Mercury Head...the list goes on!
But all of these were with grapes grown by others, purchasing fruit or from contracted farmers. This has all changed - the 2022 Pinot Noir comes from a single farm in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Phinney, used to sourcing fruit from the region for his previous Pinots, fell in love with this abandoned row crop farm on the western esge of the AVA in 2015, he set about replanting with nine different clones to suit each microclimate to perfection.
The result is astounding. The wine opens with ripe red fruit—raspberry, cherry, a touch of wild strawberry—layered with lifted floral notes, subtle spice, and a delicate trace of underbrush. Ageing in French oak has lent texture and polish, but it’s the clarity and poise of the fruit that carries the wine through a long, mineral-tinged finish. Critical aclaim was fast - 96 Points from Decanter, 95 Points & Editors Choice from Wine Enthusiast, 94 Points from Vinous.
The future is incredibly bright for this wine - and we are delighted to be OLG's agents in the UK.
Limited allocation. First UK release.