# Antica Pinot Noir (2012)

- **Producer:** Antica Napa Valley
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.2%
- **Average price:** €58
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, strawberry, plum, raspberry, black pepper, vanilla, cedar, toast, leather, forest floor, tobacco

## About this wine

Antica Napa Valley represents the elegant marriage of two winemaking worlds: the historic Antinori family of Tuscany and the rugged terroir of California. While the Antinori family has been crafting wine in Italy since 1385, patriarch Piero Antinori fell in love with Napa Valley in the 1960s. He realized his dream of mountain-grown Napa wines by acquiring this Atlas Peak property in 1993. The name 'Antica' itself is a portmanteau of Antinori and California, reflecting this unique cross-continental heritage.

## Interesting facts

- The name 'Antica' is a clever portmanteau combining the family name 'Antinori' with 'California'.
- Grown at high elevations of up to 1,800 feet on the rocky, volcanic slopes of Atlas Peak.
- Pinot Noir is exceptionally rare at this estate, making up less than 5% of their total vineyard plantings.

## Food pairing

The wine's medium body, vibrant acidity, and silky tannins make it incredibly versatile. It pairs beautifully with rich poultry like duck, earthy mushrooms, and roasted pork, where the acidity cuts through the fat without overwhelming the delicate fruit flavors.

## Wine making process

Sourced from high-altitude estate blocks in Foss Valley along the Vaca Mountain range, the grapes benefit from rocky, volcanic soils and extreme diurnal temperature shifts. This rare mountain Pinot Noir is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks before undergoing aging in French oak barriques (approximately 30% new oak) for 10 to 12 months. This careful process preserves the delicate varietal character of Pinot Noir while imparting structural complexity.