2023 Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Coming from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2023 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Le Moulin Rouge is a youthful red jeweled color and is bright and focused with spiced aromas of cinnamon, grenadine, raspberries, wildflowers, and minty forest herbs. The palate is focused and mouthwatering, with bright acidity, refined, even tannins, and a more approachable feel. It’s a gorgeous wine now and should drink well over the coming 15 years. Sir Peter Michael founded his eponymous winery in 1982, inspired by the wine of Chateau Montelena, which led him to California. In 2020, Robert Fiore took the helm as winemaker, while former winemaker Luc Morlet remains as a consultant. Robert studied at the Colorado School of Mines, which led him to a career in environmental geophysics before finding his path into the world of wine. He went on to UC Davis to study Viticulture and Enology. Most recently, Robert was a member of the winemaking team at Continuum in Napa. Vineyard manager Javier Avina has championed the land since 1991. Each of the sites are steep hillsides in Knights Valley that modulate with varied exposition and soils. Sir Peter’s son Paul and his wife Emily oversee the management of the winery today.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From a temperate growing season, the 2023 Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge demands some swirling to reveal aromas of pomegranate, rhubarb, saline, red licorice and desert scrub brush. The full-bodied palate is bursting with layered, spicy red fruit. It's framed by firm, grainy tannins and bright acidity and has a long, latent finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. 656 cases were made.
The 2023 Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge races across the palate with a rush of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, spice, orange peel and French oak. It’s a fabulous expression of the Pisoni Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands.
About the producer
Founded in 1983 by Sir Peter Michael CBE and his wife Margaret, Peter Michael Winery produces some of California’s finest wines.