Matthew Fritz 2022 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands

Renowned winemaker, Jim Milone, crafts, blends and bottles Matthew Fritz in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Jim grew up in the vineyards of his grandfather’s winery in Mendocino County and currently lives in Northern Sonoma. His excellent relationships with wineries and growers throughout the North Coast of California are invaluable to their vineyard sourcing. The 2022 Mathew Fritz Pinot Noir was sourced from premium vineyard sites in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

The 2022 harvest was hailed as “off the charts” by growers and winemakers in California.  Due to the ongoing drought conditions, yields were again slightly lower but created a smaller harvest with greater intensity. Despite the challenges, this vintage has produced memorable pinot noirs of great concentration and complexity.

The wine is a medium ruby with a nose dominated by ripe wild strawberry and rose petal, and layered with soft scents of tea leaf, balsa wood, and cardamom. The palate is ripe in the mouth and filled with lush red cherry and strawberry, with traces of cured meat and white pepper in the mid-palate. The finish has mouthwatering acidity and medium tannin.