Caraccioli Cellars Estate Gamay Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2022

Caraccioli Cellars is best known as one of California’s premier domestic sparkling houses, celebrated for its flagship Brut Cuvée and Brut Rosé. Yet their still wines, like the Estate Gamay Noir, deserve just as much recognition. A family-run winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Caraccioli Cellars has always been committed to producing wines that express both vintage and estate with clarity. From the outset, they worked exclusively with Santa Lucia Highlands grapes, and today they operate as an entirely estate winery, showcasing the exceptional Escolle Vineyard across both sparkling and still expressions.

Planted on steep, windy slopes that capture the tremendous coastal influence, the Gamay Noir thrives in this region's unique climate, producing grapes of bright acidity, pure fruit, and naturally elegant structure. The 2022 vintage exemplifies Caraccioli’s approach: light-handed winemaking, minimal manipulation, and rigorous control at every stage, allowing the vineyard and vintage to shine through unaltered. The result is a wine that is both elegant and precise, capturing the essence of the land while revealing subtle nuances of each growing season.

In the glass, the 2022 Estate Gamay Noir is immediately expressive, with aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberry lifted by delicate floral notes and a hint of earthy spice. On the palate, it is supple yet focused, with silky tannins balanced by bright, refreshing acidity. Layers of ripe red fruit are complemented by subtle clove, forest floor, and mineral undertones that reflect the rocky, sun-drenched soils of the estate. The finish is long, bright, and persistent, leaving a lingering impression of both energy and refinement.