Fleur de California Pinot Noir Carneros

Francis Mahoney was among the first to plant Pinot Noir in Carneros in the early 1970s, when nobody considered the foggy, wind-swept southern tip of Napa and Sonoma serious wine country. He proved them wrong, and Fleur de California has been his approachable, restaurant-friendly label since 1987. The Carneros Pinot Noir is the flagship — sourced primarily from the estate's Las Brisas and Haire vineyards, fermented in small open-top lots, and aged 12 months in 15% new French oak. Bing cherry, raspberry, and peppercorn with aromas of forest floor and black tea: classic Carneros Pinot at a sensible price.

Food Pairing: Roast chicken or duck, wild mushroom risotto, salmon, mild goat cheese, charcuterie.