Capiaux Cellars "Gary’s Vineyard" Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Higlands, California 2023
Since 1994, Sean Capiaux has been dedicated to pursuing the "Holy Grail" of Pinot Noir through single-vineyard bottlings that express unique terroir. Gary's Vineyard represents a partnership between Gary Pisoni and Gary Franscioni in the acclaimed Santa Lucia Highlands, continuing the legacy of their friendship that began in childhood. This 50-acre vineyard has been called "one of the most famous vineyards in California" by the Wall Street Journal.
"Dark appearance with a youthful purple hue and solid core. Striking aromas of currant, cherry liqueur and earth jump from the glass. Flavors of blackberry, smoked meats and espresso meld into a creamy finish. Nicely balanced acids and tannins make this a wine of great nuance and finesse." - Sean Capiaux
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Gary's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Volume: 750ml
Alcohol: 14.1% ABV
Farming Practice: Sustainable, low-yielding vineyard management
Soil Type: Sandy loam with alluvial deposits
Vinification: Natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, cutting-edge equipment paired with hands-on winemaking, minimal new oak (33%), unfined and unfiltered
Bodegas Estefania was established in 1999 when the Frias family recovered an old creamery located in the village of Dehesas in Ponferrada, within the storied Bierzo region of northwestern Spain. The winery became part of the MG Wines Group in 2014, yet its commitment to artisanal excellence remains unwavering.
Nestled in a valley bordered by mountains between León, Galicia and Asturias, 40 hectares of century-old vines are surrounded by the silence of nature. This extraordinary terroir, enriched by several rivers with minerals, mines, and nutrients, making it green and wild, provides the perfect foundation for cultivating exceptional grapes.
The Tilenus Heritage
The winery's flagship brand 'Tilenus' was named after the primitive god 'Teleno,' the Celtic god of war and equivalent to the Roman god Mars. The reason for naming the wine Tilenus was to pay tribute to the golden era of Romans in Bierzo, which began to exploit the rich gold mines of the Médulas. This rich history is elegantly captured on every bottle: the wine labels carry a picture of a Roman coin that was found in one of their vineyards to pay homage to their heritage.
Winemaking Excellence Under Raúl Pérez
Winemaking icon Raúl Pérez has become a producer with great influence on the new generation of Spanish winemakers. Universally considered to be one of the world's most visionary winemakers, Pérez was named "Best Winemaker in the World" for 2015 by the French publication Bettane+Desseauve and "Winemaker of the Year" by German publication Der Feinschmecker in 2014.
Born into a wine-making family, his family's winery, Castro Ventosa (the Windy Castle), was established by the Perez family in 1752. His longest ongoing consultancy work is Bodegas Estefanía (Tilenus) in Bierzo, where his innovative approach creates wines that are pure expressions of their terroir.
Pérez's philosophy centers on minimal intervention: he claims to have found a balance between early harvesting and long macerations (two to five months). This allows him to preserve acidity, extract and polymerize tannins through the use of natural oxygenation in oak. Pérez no longer uses cooling devices in his winery and his wines are aged either in foudres or used barrels. Raul is known as a free spirit – wine wizard letting the land speak for what is in the glass.
Terroir-Driven Winemaking
The winery is known for producing exclusive wines by combining their traditional methods with new and modern winemaking techniques. Workers carefully handpick each grape, transporting all fruit in small batches to the winery.
Bodegas Estefanía has a production winery that was built combining materials such as slate, stone and wood, praising the area's traditional architecture. Each production phase has been prepared in a specific way, monitoring the temperature, moisture and light. The barrel room has almost a thousand Bordeaux French oak barrels for the aging of wines, manufactured by the most prestigious barrel-making cooperage firms, mostly French oak.
Grape Varieties and Sustainable Practices
The estate specializes in native varieties that express the unique character of Bierzo. In addition to the unique grape, Mencia, Bodegas Estefania also grows Godello in their vineyards. The winery is working 100% in organic agriculture, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and terroir expression.