The 2011 Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard has a wonderful immediacy to it. Plums, black cherries, cloves and menthol all flesh out in the glass. The Widdoes is all about textural plushness and depth. There is plenty of that here, especially for such a challenging vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. One of Napa Valley’s most talented winemakers, Sean Capiaux is equally comfortable crafting Betty O’Shaughnessy’s fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon-based Napa Valley wines as well as these Pinots, which Capiaux bottles under his own label. The Capiaux Pinots are some of the finest wines readers will find in the $30 price range. Suffice it to say, I was deeply impressed with what I tasted.Tel. (707) 307-4383

The 2010 Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard bursts from the glass with sweet red berries, flowers and spices. This is a fairly tense style of Russian River Pinot, with plenty of underlying structure and acidity. Layers of fruit build effortlessly to the long, vibrant finish. I especially like the cool minerality here. The wine shut down quickly in the glass however, and may be headed for a period of dormancy. Nevertheless, it is a striking wine from Sean Capiaux. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2017. Sean Capiaux is probably best known for the stunning wines he makes at O-Shaughnessy on Howell Mountain. The Pinots he makes for his own label are equally worthy of attention. Capiaux crafts bold, juicy Pinots long on personality.Tel (707) 307-4383

Another beauty, the 2009 Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard includes about 10% stems and was aged in 40% new French oak. It exhibits beautiful sweet strawberry, red and black currant fruit as well as notions of earth, underbrush and subtle oak. Round, generous, full-bodied, luscious and silky textured, this 2009 is already irresistible and should last for 4-5 years. Sean Capiaux, who is also the winemaker for O’Shaughnessy’s Napa Valley wines, has his own project and as the following tasting notes indicate, he demonstrates a Midas touch with Pinot Noir. His 2007 and 2008 Pinots I reviewed in issue 187 were also impressive.Tel. (707) 307-4383; Fax (707) 307-4305