Hyde de Villaine Pinot Noir Ygnacia 2021

Hyde de Villaine is one of the most under-the-radar estates in Napa Valley, its two famous founders (Larry Hyde and Aubert de Villaine) notwithstanding. Guillaume Boudet crafts wines of unreal finesse. Historically, these wines have also aged exquisitely. Many of the selections this year are insanely beautiful… Readers who enjoy wines of finesse and understatement will want to check out these new releases. -Vinous

Usually just 336 cases (eight barrels) are made of the HdV Pinot Noir Ygnacia Hyde Vineyard each vintage. In 2021, a generous vintage, that number was 25 cases higher at 361. Obviously, given the superstardom and the immaculate wines these two combine for, those 336 cases all disappeared in a hurry to their usual channels. But after that, guess who got the call?!?

This is one of the finest Pinot Noir offerings I’ve been able to send out. Unfortunately, I could only get us 60 bottles. But considering the source, the pedigree, and the sheer brilliance of this wine, I hope you don’t mind.

The 2021 HDV Ygnacia Hyde Vienyard Pinot Noir is an absolute dream that is clearly deserving of its 98-point score, the third-highest given out by Vinous for a domestic Pinot in the entire vintage. Galloni absolutely gushed over it, calling out the “beautifully amplified” notes and deeming that this wine “possesses tremendous depth from start to finish.”