About Laetitia Les Galets Pinot Noir 2017:
This wine is complex similar to the soils from which it is grown.
Tasting Notes:
Earthy notes of stone and petrichor met with cherry and herbs waft from the glass. Fantastically concentrated flavors of cherry pie, pomegranate, persimmon, cola, and mushroom, liberally enhanced by sweet new oak.
Growing Notes:
The Laetitia Estate Vineyards were first planted to grapes in 1982 when French viticulturists found ideal growing conditions in the Arroyo Grande Valley for producing wines of similar character to those of their homeland of pernay in the Champagne wine region. Only four miles from the ocean, their hillsides receive a thin band of fog in the morning, intense sunshine during the day and coolness in the evening. This microclimate, coupled with extended growing season, high acidity and low pH, produces grapes with intense flavor and complexity. The well-drained soils yield small crops of great depth and varietal character.
Winemaking Notes:
Laetitia Les Galets Pinot Noir fruit had multiple picks from late September to early October. The wine was cold-soaked for four days and then whole berry fermented in small open-top fermenters with an addition of RC212 yeast. After six days of fermentation, the wine was gently pressed and allowed to settle for twelve hours and then racked.
About The Winery:
Since 1982, the Laetitia Vineyard & Winery has produced elegant wines that champion the exceptional character and diversity of the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA. Originally founded by an established French Champagne house, the Laetitia estate carries on in the longstanding traditions of Burgundy and Champagne with a focus on small-lot Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Valuing legacy, balance, innovation, and sustainable practices from harvest to glass, the Laetitia team works meticulously from vintage to vintage to ensure that every bottle of Laetitia wine is as expressive as the coastal land from which it originates.
Laetitia Winemaker and General Manager Eric Hickey began his relationship with the Laetitia Winery Estate in 1988 when he was just 16 years old, working in the cellar with his dad, Dave Hickey, who was a production assistant for Maison Deutz at the time. Seizing the golden opportunity to apprentice with French winemakers, Eric joined the Maison Deutz team full-time after graduating from high school. From vintage to vintage, he gained a deep appreciation for the property’s fruit, while also taking time to explore the Rhône, Burgundy and Bordeaux in France and participating in an extension program through U.C. Davis.
In 2000, Eric was named Head Winemaker, and has since taken on the role as Senior Winemaker and General Manager, overseeing the still and sparkling wine programs. With a winemaking style that balances Old World tradition with cutting-edge California, Eric consistently produces generous, articulate wines that are true to the character of the Laetitia Estate.