PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Bouchaine Vineyards holds the distinction of being the oldest continually operating winery in the Carneros AVA, and its 100-acre estate — planted across seven distinct Pinot Noir clones, with more than 40 individual blocks fermented separately to preserve site-specific character — sits along the southern edge of Napa Valley, overlooking San Francisco Bay. Winemaker Chris Kajani, who brought nearly a decade of Carneros Pinot Noir experience from Saintsbury before joining Bouchaine, has built out a genuinely compelling single-clone program specifically to showcase how differently each clone expresses itself on the exact same volcanic soil. As Kajani puts it: "we are obsessed with these volcanic soils, and certain parts of the vineyards really show the clonal differences in the wine. I think the clones all sing different songs and highlight the many wonderful things we love about Pinot Noir."
Within that lineup, Swan Clone consistently sits at the lighter, more delicate end of the spectrum. Sonoma Magazine's own coverage of the current release describes the 2022 Swan Clone Estate Pinot Noir as sitting "at the lighter end of the spectrum with delicate strawberry and cherry notes." Kajani herself has referred to the Swan Clone bottling as a genuine "sommelier darling," prized specifically for "its freshness and zesty acidity" that "perfectly match all kinds of food" — a wine built for the table rather than raw power.
The 2022 growing season across Bouchaine's estate was shaped by a notable five-day heat wave in early September, though the Carneros AVA's characteristic cool breezes and morning fog helped preserve fresh acidity throughout the vintage. Every grape across the estate is hand-harvested at night to protect berry integrity, undergoing a seven-day cold soak before native-yeast fermentation in open-top tanks, with the wine completing malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. This is genuinely elegant, food-friendly Pinot Noir — a real showcase of Swan Clone's naturally lighter, more aromatic character within Bouchaine's broader clonal lineup.
Bouchaine Vineyards is the oldest continually operating winery in the Carneros AVA, located on the southern border of Napa Valley, overlooking San Francisco Bay. The 100-acre estate is planted across seven distinct Pinot Noir clones, with more than 40 individual vineyard blocks fermented separately to preserve their unique character. The vineyard's cool, foggy, wind-swept climate and volcanic soils are credited with giving Bouchaine's Pinot Noir its distinctive regional identity.
Grapes for the Swan Clone bottling are hand-harvested at night to preserve berry integrity, undergo a seven-day cold soak, and ferment with native yeast in open-top tanks before gentle basket pressing. The wine completes malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels. The 2022 growing season was shaped by a five-day heat wave in early September, tempered by Carneros' characteristic cool breezes and morning fog. Winemaker Chris Kajani, who joined Bouchaine in 2015 after years at Saintsbury, oversees the estate's single-clone Pinot Noir program.
Lisa Perrotti Brown - The Wine Independent 95 Points: “Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2022 Swan Clone Pinot Noir needs a little swirling to bring out delicate notes of red cherries, juicy strawberries, and raspberry leaves, plus hints of garrigue, dried lavender, and black tea. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with well-knit freshness and soft tannins, finishing with compelling restraint.”
Sonoma Magazine (current release coverage):
"The 2022 Swan Clone Estate Pinot Noir, one in a series of single-clone offerings, sits at the lighter end of the spectrum with delicate strawberry and cherry notes."
Chris Kajani, Winemaker, Bouchaine Vineyards (house-style context):
"We are obsessed with these volcanic soils, and certain parts of the vineyards really show the clonal differences in the wine. I think the clones all sing different songs and highlight the many wonderful things we love about Pinot Noir." On the Swan Clone specifically: a genuine "sommelier darling," prized for "its freshness and zesty acidity" that "perfectly match all kinds of food."
Reflects confirmed house-style character for this bottling; a full independent tasting note for the 2022 vintage specifically is not yet published.
Nose
Delicate and aromatic, with strawberry and cherry leading.
Palate
Light-bodied and fresh, with zesty, food-friendly acidity — genuinely the more delicate expression within Bouchaine's clonal Pinot Noir lineup.
Finish
Bright and clean, built for versatile food pairing rather than raw power or heavy tannin.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Carneros, Napa Valley, California |
| Variety | 100% Pinot Noir (Swan Clone) |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Producer | Bouchaine Vineyards |
| Winemaker | Chris Kajani (formerly Saintsbury) |
| Vineyard | 100% estate grown, volcanic soils |
| Harvest | Hand-picked, at night |
| Fermentation | Native yeast, open-top tanks, 7-day cold soak |
| Aging | Malolactic fermentation in French oak |
| Style / Identity | The lightest, most delicate of Bouchaine's clonal Pinot Noir bottlings — a genuine "sommelier darling" |
| Aromas & Flavors | Strawberry, cherry |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
Your cart is empty
Start shopping
