The Hyde de Villaine crest originated with the de la Guerra family of Spain and has graced every bottle since our inception in 2000. To celebrate the Hyde family’s Spanish-California heritage, our Pinot Noir from the Van der Kamp Vineyard dons the name of a family matriarch, Ysabel.

February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near ideal conditions for the fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels.

Enchanting aromas of rose perfume, pink peppercorn and green tea are balanced with hints of pomegranate, macerated strawberry and weathered cedar. Cranberry and wild raspberry notes combined with well-defined tannins give a texture reminiscent of Chinese five-spice. Flirting with herbal tones of thyme and rosemary, this wine promises to age for at least a decade to come. — Guillaume Boudet, Winemaker