2022 Matthiasson Pinot Meunier Yount Mill

The Pinot Meunier from Matthiasson's organically-farmed Yount Mill Vineyard in Napa Valley was originally planted for sparkling wine production, as it's one of the red varieties used in Champagne. Still wine from Pinot Meunier is rare. Matthiasson first produced this wine in 2015 as a one-off, then repeated it in 2018, 2020, and 2022 due to its success. The wine was fermented with 50% whole clusters in a small open-top tank with two manual punch downs per day, giving it an almost Beaujolais feel. The Napa version is lighter and fruitier than its French counterparts, with distinctive minerality prized in this sunny region where wines typically run fruitier. The wine is truly earthy and mineral, offering tantalizing blue fruits balanced by a refreshing backbone of acidity and lively structure.