Victor Francis Pinot Noir
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, pan-seared salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Crafted as a deeply personal tribute, the 'Victor Francis' Pinot Noir is named in honor of winemaker Paul Lato’s late father. Sourced from the prestigious Peake Ranch Vineyard in the cool, wind-swept Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County, this wine beautifully illustrates Lato's artisanal, low-intervention approach. The vineyard's unique marine soils and intense maritime influence—characterized by morning fog and cool afternoon breezes—impart a vibrant acidity and remarkable structural tension to the fruit. In the cellar, Lato coaxes out a seductive texture and purity, aging the wine in select French oak barrels. The result is a Pinot Noir of exceptional grace, balancing intense dark cherry and raspberry notes with savory undertones of forest floor and fine-grained tannins.
🍾 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
14-14.5%