Kokoro Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3 to 12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck breast, creamy mushroom risotto, seared king salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after the Japanese word for 'heart, mind, and spirit,' the 'Kokoro' Pinot Noir is Paul Lato's ultimate liquid expression of passion and craftsmanship. This rare, limited-production cuvée is not tied to a single vineyard; instead, it represents a meticulous barrel selection of the very finest Pinot Noir from Lato's premier cool-climate sites in Santa Barbara County, such as the wind-swept Solomon Hills and historic Bien Nacido. The wine captures the dramatic maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean, where morning fog and chilly breezes preserve vibrant acidity and foster slow, even ripening. Crafted with minimal intervention and aged in select French oak barrels, 'Kokoro' is celebrated for its exquisite balance of power and grace, offering a multi-layered tapestry of dark cherries, exotic spices, and a signature velvety texture that lingers on the palate.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2002 by Polish-born former Toronto sommelier Paul Lato, this boutique Central Coast winery emerged after early mentorship from Au Bon Climat's Jim Clendenen and encouragement from Bien Nacido's Bob Miller. Operating without estate acreage, Lato contracts premier, meticulously farmed plots across premier maritime-influenced cool-climate terroirs, spanning the Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, and Los Carneros. The viticultural philosophy focuses on rigorous yield restriction, physiological maturity, and sustainable management tailored block by block. In the cellar, Lato applies an intuitive, non-interventionist approach with small-lot fermentations, ambient yeast, and sensitive French oak aging to deliver exceptional textural tension, purity, and culinary balance. Celebrated white cuvées—including the Hyde Vineyard Goldberg Variations Chardonnay, Sierra Madre Kokoro Chardonnay, Le Bon Vivant, and O Sole Mio Sauvignon Blanc—stand alongside benchmark Pinot Noir and Syrah as some of California's most critically acclaimed, authentic, and seamless single-vineyard expressions.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Noir
🍷 ABV
14.1-14.5%