Matthiasson, Pinot Meunier 2021, Yount Mill Vineyard, Yountville, Napa Valley, CA

A rare Pinot Meunier varietal wine, this one’s medium bodied with bright, tart berry fruit and a grounded earthiness.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: California

APPELLATION (AVA): Yountville AVA

REGION: North Coast

SUBREGION: Napa Valley

VINEYARD: Yount Mill Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2021

GRAPES: 100% Pinot Meunier

SOIL: Alluvial, gravel

PRACTICE: Organic, dry-farmed, minimal intervention

VINIFICATION:  Fermented with 50% whole clusters in a small open top tank, with two manual punch downs per day. Pressed after 14 days and aged in neutral puncheons for eight months before bottling unfined and unfiltered.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Pale ruby

BODY: Medium bodied

TASTE:  Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Sour cherry, earthy, eucalyptus, floral

FLAVOR: Minerality, earthiness, cranberry, fresh

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 11.5%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve with mushroom bourguignon. 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Steve Matthiasson

MATTHIASSON is a family endeavor, the effort of Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson, and their two young sons. They have both had life-long careers in sustainable agriculture, and we apply those ideals of balance, restraint, and respect for the individual—and for the whole—to their wine. Their production is simple but careful. This concept is central to the tradition of viticulture and winemaking. Respect for this tradition forms the core of their work. To that end, their hands literally touch every vine and every bottle.

Steve Matthiasson started out as a vineyard guy, not a winemaker, but with clients that included Araujo, Spottswoode, Chappellet, and Stag's Leap, Matthiasson gleaned valuable info on creating fresh, vibrant new wines. With his “grapes come first” sensibility, his skill at balancing lusciousness with crisp intensity and his fascination with little-known varieties, Matthiasson is helping to change the Napa Valley paradigm.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: The Yount Mill Vineyard

“The Yount Mill Vineyard was one of the first certified organic vineyards in Napa Valley—they never stopped farming organically back in the post-war period when folks started using the new-fangled chemicals. Located in deep soil near the Napa River, the vines are mostly dry-farmed, and tended with minimal intervention—they are allowed to grow a little wild. The cool winds are drawn up the valley over the vineyard, allowing white grapes to maintain their vibrant freshness.” (matthiasson.com)

ABOUT THE LABEL: All of the art on Matthiasson’s labels are stylized vintage pruning shears, as an homage to the vineyards and those that work with the vines. The labels with just one pruning shear indicate more limited production wines. The labels are created by noted graphic artist Michael McDermott, who “is interested in the relationship between people and the objects they leave behind and the translation of physical experiences into digital spaces.” (mwmcdermott.com)