Victor Francis Pinot Noir
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–12 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted duck, creamy mushroom risotto, pan-seared salmon
✨ wine.spec_sheet
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.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2002 by Polish-born sommelier Paul Lato, this artisanal winery is based in Santa Maria, California, within the heart of Santa Barbara County. Driven by a philosophy of minimal intervention and a quest for elegance and balance, Lato meticulously selects fruit from some of the Central Coast's most prestigious vineyards, including Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, and Larner. The estate is highly acclaimed for its small-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Syrahs, which beautifully capture the unique maritime-influenced terroir of the region. With an unwavering focus on purity of fruit and texture, expressions like the Solomon Hills Pinot Noir Suerte and Larner Syrah Cinematique have earned the winery a reputation as one of California's premier boutique producers.