***BOTTLING EARLY OCTOBER, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER***
We love this time of year in wine country. Harvest is about to begin in earnest, and so far the 2025 crop is showing some very promising indicators – this means our team can continue capitalizing on the current supply and demand conditions for our readers! Case in point, today’s find.
Previous offers have made it clear: this list knows its Mendocino County Pinot Noir. We can’t fault you for your good taste, so we ventured back up north into rugged, remote Mendo in search of some cool-climate goodness, and we're happy to report we've not returned empty-handed. Though there are plenty of vineyards in the region’s inland valleys, resident wineries are few and far between, and those who’ve carved out a living are almost exclusively tiny family operations that have been at it for decades. With access to such incredible terroir, high-quality Pinot Noir is the standard, but because of the remote location and lack of wide consumer familiarity, there are some really high-quality wines here that can be acquired at tremendous value.
Lot 568 is a supremely elegant, yet concentrated Burgundian-style Pinot Noir sourced from estate vineyards in Potter and Ukiah Valleys. It hails from a small family-run winery that's been producing award-winning small-batch wines for over 50 years (they also produced our sold out Lot 443). We initially asked if they had any more of that terrific 2022 batch available, and while they did not, they were open to moving some of their 2023 offering from the same program. Given the reputation of the vintage, we were certainly more than interested, especially once we tasted the wine. We struck a deal, and today this $40/bottle Pinot Noir beauty is yours for under $20!
Our price: $109/6-pack, $18+/bottle!
The crucial climatic factor in these vineyards is a massive diurnal shift of almost 50 degrees. During the summer, the days are very hot, allowing the grapes to build ample sugar before cold ocean air funnels in and the nighttime temperatures plummet, ensuring the grapes’ natural acidity is maintained. The result is perfectly ripe fruit that, in the hands of our source, elevates to world-class Pinot Noir. After hand-picking, the grapes are destemmed, and individual lots are fermented separately before settling into 30% new oak for 12 months.
A glistening ruby on the pour, the bonafide Burgundian nose bursts forth with strawberry sauce, fresh foraged mushrooms, cinnamon spice, and rose petals. The Burgundian qualities carry into the terroir-driven palate, where deftly balanced acidity meets elegant minerality, with small, fresh tannins amidst earth tones, gunflint, and concentrated red berries. The finish is beautiful, unfurling with uplifted spice and vanilla florals before making way for cranberries and strawberries, then leaving with a subtle echo of delicate floral reverberations.
