Vinous Media 94
"The 2021 Pinot Noir Chimera is a rich, heady wine. A burst of dark red cherry, plum, lavender, rose petal and blood orange are all dialed up. This bold, generous Pinot delivers the goods, big time. It's a fabulous entry-level offering from Sean Capiaux, if that term can even be used here. The Chimera is mostly young vines from Starscape, with dollops from Widdoes, Pisoni and Garys’. - By Antonio Galloni on December 2022"

Tasting Notes
"The Pinot Noir Chimera Vineyard, Capiaux's largest-production bottling, is delicious this vintage and a great value. Medium ruby, it's intensely scented of raspberry liqueur, blood orange, licorice, iron and earth. The full-bodied palate is plush, silky and open with generous, spicy fruits and a very long finish. It was aged 11 months in 10% new French oak. 1,500 cases produced."

The Wine
Chimera is one of my earliest wines, the name taken from Greek mythology... "a monster comprised of three different animals" as is depicted on the label. Originally blended from three vineyards back in 2001, I now have access to several excellent Russian River vineyard sources that boost its quality. From 45-year-old Martini clone vines dry-farmed in Goldridge soils and was aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. Medium ruby, its deeply scented and spicy, with cranberry and rhubarb fruits plus notes of blood orange, earth, cardamom and anise. The full-bodied palate is lush, silky and layered with a kaleidoscope of spicey accents and a long, juicy finish."

Entwined aromas of ripe cherry, pomegranate and cranberry on the nose, followed by baking spices and wonderful blackberry component. A bright ruby/purple color intensity with a big and bold mouthful of flavors like plum, cola, strawberry preserves are held together with velvety tannins and bright acidity.

They say fences make good neighbors but I argue that Chimera seals a better deal!

About Capiaux
Pinot Noir has always been recognized as one of the noblest red wines, and also one of the most difficult varieties to produce. It has many faces and expressions, from light and fruity to dark and earthy. It is these nuances and qualities that excite us to continually pursue the Holy Grail of Pinot Noir. Sean Capiaux founded Capiaux Cellars in 1994, Capiaux cellars is dedicated to producing single vineyard bottlings of Pinot Noir. The philosophy is to produce wines that express the unique location from which they came, a sense of place or distinctive quality that sets them apart. Therefore, only high quality, low yielding, select clonal grapes are used, from unique viticultural areas.

The winemaking style is a blend of classic and contemporary, utilizing cutting edge fermentation equipment paired with natural hands on winemaking, our emphasis is on balance All the wines are naturally fermented and unfined and unfiltered to preserve their innate flavors and aromas. Minimal amounts of new oak are used, usually 33.

Capiaux Cellars specializes in small lots of vineyard designated Pinot Noir from California.