2012 Neely Pinot Noir Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains 750 ml

Hidden Block Dijon Clone 115 … “Like Little Hand Grenades”

Last fall, we featured Jim and Bob Varner’s Foxglove Chardonnay, a wine Robert Parker called a “spectacular bargain” before tweeting “super value in central coast #Chardonnay from Varner boys!” The WineAccess membership responded as expected, purchasing a record number of cases in a 36-hour sellout.

While we were happy with October’s sales totals, we were far more pleased with the brothers’ response to our performance. Jim called on October 14th, thanking us for our efforts and then promising WineAccess a small allocation of one of the rarest and most sought-after cult Pinot Noirs in California.

In 1995, the Neely family bought the beautiful Spring Ridge Vineyard property adjacent to the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley. Two years later, the Neelys planted the 3-acre Hidden Block in poor, rocky sedimentary soils on a northeastern hillside. They selected the Dijon Clone 115, known for its tight clusters (“like little hand grenades”), purple color, richness, and suppleness.

Ten miles from the Pacific Ocean, Hidden Block is dry-farmed and tended to strictest organic farming protocol. The Varners push the envelope on ripeness, turning out deep, dark, structured Pinot Noirs infused with great coastal tension and energy. Robert Parker has described the wines as having “a distinctive Cote de Beaune Premier Cru-like personality.”

Fifteen years after planting, in a 2012 vintage that most in the Santa Cruz Mountains will never forget, Bob Varner crafted just 405 cases of Neely Hidden Block Pinot Noir. Of the 11 Varner Pinots to earn 93 points or more from The Wine Advocate, this may well be the most compelling.

The 2012 Hidden Block Pinot Noir is vivid dark-ruby in color. Broad and lavish aromatically with luscious, primary aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, and rose petals. Rich, dense, and voluptuous on the attack, filled with dark-red-fruit preserves, framed with new-wood cedar, and finishing with excellent tension and Santa Cruz Mountains cut. Drink now-2024.

$50 elsewhere. Just $39 today, as if discounting even matters for a taste of Hidden Block. 300 bottles are up for grabs. Limit of 6 bottles per member. NO exceptions. Shipping included on 4.