The Anderson Valley AVA is my favorite California winegrowing region for Pinot grapes. Located north of Sonoma County and accessed by a winding road that runs through a fairytale forest filled with towering redwoods, it’s an old logging territory that’s now an unpretentious, laid-back area that happens to produce some of the finest cool climate grapes in America.
Aged sur lie for five months in French Oak and sourced from a family winery too small to ever have its wines found through normal distribution channels, the only place you could find this wine is their tasting room…until now! Sporting a Gold Medal and 95+ point score under its winery label, it’s available at chwine.com for less than half the original price.
Bursting from the glass, the aromatics are strikingly archetypal for a Pinot Grigio. Eminently drinkable due to the softening effects from the French oak and sur lie aging, there is no bright acidic jump – just incredible mouthfeel. The wine is fleshed out incredibly well while going down, followed by a clean finish with just a kiss of acidity. The perfect sipper that you’ll find yourself finishing a bottle (or three) at a time.