Sequitor Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge

Sequitur is the next chapter in the story of Michael Etzel, founding partner of the celebrated Beaux Frères estate. Michael and his wife Carey Critchlow established their own twelve-acre vineyard in Ribbon Ridge directly adjacent to the Beaux Frères Upper Terrace Vineyard, planting it between 2012 and 2014. Its name comes from the Latin sequi, "it follows," a reference to the vineyard following the Etzels' lives, family and decades-long pursuit of Pinot Noir.

The vineyard itself is unusually complex, planted to 17 different Pinot Noir clones across Ribbon Ridge's marine sedimentary soils. Michael and his son Mikey Etzel share winemaking responsibilities, while the vineyard and harvest teams are shared with Beaux Frères. Since 2021, the wines have been made at the Etzel family's own winery just down the road.

The 2023 Sequitur "Blue" Pinot Noir was fermented natively in open-top concrete with 10% whole clusters, spent roughly 18 to 20 days on its skins, and was then aged for 10 months in French oak, only 30% new. The finished wine is energetic and beautifully perfumed, moving from raspberry, pomegranate and red cherry toward blood orange, lavender, earth and spice, with fine tannins and bright acidity carrying the long finish.