Peter Michael’s 2024 “Le Caprice” Pinot Noir is a Fort Ross–Seaview expression drawn from the estate’s Seaview Vineyard, a steep, high-elevation site above 1,000 feet with strong Pacific influence. The wine is 100% Pinot Noir, hand-harvested September 26 to October 5, 2024, fermented with native yeast, and aged 16 months in French oak barriques (50% new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered on February 12, 2026.
In the glass, reviewers consistently land on a profile that combines bright coastal perfume with darker, woodsy notes. Jeb Dunnuck (96) highlights “brambly earth, compact wild spice, pine oils, and wild compact berries,” noting it “pours a bright red color” and shows “fine tannins and wild raspberry fruit.” He also calls out the way “sneaky savory undertones gain depth and refined complexity,” recommending a long window: “Drink 2026–2041.” That’s an excellent review and aligns with the wine’s reputation for structure without heaviness.
Erin Brooks at Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rates it 95 (barrel, “(93–95 points)”), describing “expressive aromas of red and black cherry, citrus peel, Angostura bitters, mossy bark, licorice and well-integrated oak spice,” with “bright acidity” and a “long finish.” She notes it “seems to be coming along a bit more slowly than the other Pinots from 2024,” a point echoed by Vinous (94), which calls Le Caprice “the most reticent of the three estate Pinots” and advises, “Give this a bit of time to soften.”
The Wine Palate’s 96-point note is the most exuberant, saying it “bursts with gregarious notes of wild blueberries and black raspberries” and finishes “long and perfumed”—another excellent review. Wine Spectator is more reserved at 92, finding “raspberry and black cherry” with “mulling spices and black tea,” concluding it is “shy on energy but generous in feel,” and suggesting near-term drinking (now–2029).
Production is limited, with 1,428 cases expected per Wine Advocate (Wine Spectator reports 1,346). Overall, 2024 Le Caprice reads as a structured, coastal Pinot with savory detail, bright fruit, and the kind of patience-rewarding profile that serious Sonoma Coast Pinot fans tend to seek out.
