Cork & Quill Log No.7

Jul 17

Where Fog Meets Fire: A Chilean Pinot Noir

Wine: Villard Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2022
Region: Casablanca Valley, Chile
Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
Vibe: Coastal mystery | Earth-kissed elegance | Smoke and silence
Mood Pairing: Creative solitude, rainy day writing, long eye contact across candlelight

🍷 Tasting Notes

In the glass: translucent ruby—pure and moody.
On the nose: cranberry, pomegranate, hibiscus tea, and a hint of damp forest floor. The palate hums with red cherry skin, subtle rose petal, wild herbs, and a breeze of ocean salinity. The tannins are delicate, the acidity electric, and the finish lingers like fog curling around mountain stone.

This Pinot doesn’t perform—it reveals.
Each sip a slow unraveling of coastal terrain and ancestral quiet.

Technical Sheet

Appellation: Casablanca Valley, Chile

Alcohol: ~13.5%

Farming: Sustainable

Soil Type: Granite, clay, and marine sediment

Vinification: Partial whole cluster, native fermentation

Aging: 8–10 months in French oak (20% new)

🍽️ Food Pairing

A perfect partner for earthy, umami-driven meals:

Duck confit over lentils
Wild mushroom and truffle risotto
Roast beet salad with toasted walnuts + chèvre
Cedar plank salmon with black garlic glaze
Herb-roasted chicken thighs + pan jus

At S.X. House, we’d serve this with:
🌰 Black garlic crostini with whipped chèvre + fig preserve

🎶 Sonic Seasoning

Let the playlist slow the pulse and steep the room:

Celeste – “Strange”
Omar Apollo – “Evergreen”
Hope Tala – “Tiptoeing”
Hiatus Kaiyote – “Breathing Underwater”

A soundtrack for letting the wine, and your thoughts, unfold gently.

🪶 Reflection (Quill Section)

The 2022 Villard Pinot Noir is a love letter to quiet complexity. Casablanca Valley’s cool winds and volcanic soils offer restraint and depth, gifting a wine that doesn't chase flash—but commands presence.

🍇 Let this bottle remind you: Some things take time to open up. And when they do, they’re unforgettable.

Jessica Khouri