Pinot Noir (2018)

About this wine

This wine opens with scents of red cherry, ripe strawberry, and a touch of rose petal, followed by a hint of white pepper and baking spice. On the palate the fruit is juicy and direct, leaning toward raspberry and boysenberry, with a round mid palate and smooth, silky tannins. Petit Verdot is added in small measure to deepen color and body, giving the wine a slightly firmer frame. Oak influence is present but integrated, adding notes of vanilla and light cedar from aging in barrel. The finish is medium in length and balanced by bright acidity that keeps the wine lively. The bottle is part of Imagery Estate Winery’s California lineup, a house known for approachable, fruit forward styles and for entering this tier of wines in competitions during the 2018 era.

About the grape

Pinot Noir is an ancient Burgundian variety that arrived in California in the 19th and early 20th centuries and found its best expression in cooler coastal zones like Sonoma and the Russian River, where plantings use Dijon and heritage clones trained to encourage canopy airflow and preserve acidity. In this bottling Pinot Noir supplies the primary structure and aromatic backbone, with fruit sourced from California coastal vineyards managed for moderate yields and balanced ripeness. Petit Verdot is a traditional Bordeaux grape known for deep color and firm tannin that ripens late, so California producers use it sparingly or from warmer blocks to ensure full maturity. In the 2018 Imagery Pinot Noir the winemaker includes about ten percent Petit Verdot to boost color and body while relying on Pinot Noir for perfume and acidity, a deliberate blending choice that reflects each varietal s strengths in the regional vineyards.

Quick facts

• 🍇 This Pinot Noir is intentionally blended with Petit Verdot, a rare companion for Pinot Noir, to boost color and body while keeping bright red fruit.
• 🎨 Imagery places original artwork on each label, the bottle is designed as a mini art piece so the wine doubles as a collectible display item.
• 🔩 The 2018 is sealed with a screw cap, a less common closure for California red wine, which helps preserve fresh fruit aromas.
• 🕰️ Winemaking uses about 4 months in oak with roughly 20% new French oak, a relatively short and light oak regime that keeps the wine plush without heavy oak influence.
• 🍬 This bottling carries a touch of residual sweetness around 3.4 g per liter, so the wine reads as slightly round and jammy rather than bone dry.

Palate profile

Producer

Imagery Estate Winery, located in Glen Ellen, California, was founded in 1986 by winemaker Joe Benziger in collaboration with artist Bob Nugent. The winery is renowned for its unique fusion of art and wine, commissioning original artwork for each wine label, with over 500 pieces from more than 300 artists featured in their on-site gallery. A distinctive element of these artworks is the inclusion of a Parthenon image, symbolizing the connection between the Benziger family's properties. In 2017, Joe's daughter, Jamie Benziger, took over as winemaker, continuing the family's legacy of crafting wines from uncommon varietals such as Malbec, Tempranillo, and Lagrein.