The new Chimera from Capiaux is one of the finest Russian River Pinots out there for the money. Don't miss!

90 Points Vinous: " The Capiaux Pinot Noir Chimera is laced with crushed red berry, mint, orange peel and white pepper. This pliant, mid-weight Pinot is all charm, as it often is. It’s also a ridiculous value. Dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender and sweet spice are nicely pushed forward in this supple, mid-weight offering."

Proprietor and winemaker Sean Capiaux has a degree in enology from California State University Fresno and has a notable career as a winemaker working at Jordan, Pine Ridge and Peter Michael in California, Macari, Jamesport and Schneider in Long Island, New York, and Houghton's in Australia. He started his own label, Capiaux Cellars in 1994 and also is the proprietor and winemaker for O'Shaughnessy Winery, a producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Howell Mountain appellation of Napa Valley.

Capiaux currently produces five vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs from Garys' Vineyard and Pisoni Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Wilson Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast, and Widdoes Vineyard and Freestone Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. An additional Pinot Noir, Chimera, is a blend from Sonoma County.c