2017 Anderson Conn Valley Pinot Noir Napa Valley 750 ml

We recently trekked into the hills above St. Helena to Anderson Conn Valley to meet our good friend Jim Silver. Some of us at Wine Access have known Jim Silver since his days as a somm at the Four Seasons in the ‘90s. As usual, the affable GM treated us to a lineup of Wine Access client favorites: Right Bank, Eloge, the Estate Cabernet and Reserve. And then, he surprised even us: “You guys have never had this,” he said. Then disappeared into the locked library cellar. When he returned he was holding a Burgundy-shaped bottle.

“We’ve always talked Cabernet, but for 30 years we’ve made a Napa Valley Pinot Noir,” he said. Pulling the cork and pouring the 2017 Anderson Conn Valley Pinot Noir in our glasses, it showed a deep ruby-purple color. “We made Pinot because we love Pinot,” he explained, adding, “but it’s the last vintage we’ll ever make.” Confused, we asked for an explanation.

“We’re really good at Cabernet, and we’re doubling down and focusing solely on Cab,” Jim said. “Ironically, our last Pinot is the best we’ve ever made! Go figure. Our entire production has gone straight to the mailing list in the past. But this 2017 vintage hasn’t been released. Rob made 700 cases. The mailing list will undoubtedly take it all. If you like it...we can talk. We call it our ‘Cab-lovers’ Pinot.”  

Did we like it? Even there, in the cold caves at ACV, staring down open bottles of back-vintage Eloge and Right Bank, this Pinot Noir was utterly explosive in the glass—it bowled us over. Supple, perfumed aromas of red and purple florals lifted out of the glass, giving way to black cherry, espresso bean, and mocha. Powerful, dense, and richly layered with creamy black cherry compote, black raspberry, new wood cedar, soulfully warming, making us swoon. We took one look at Jim and said that Wine Access clients would want as much as he’d part with.

Sourced from a site in Napa bordering the Carneros AVA, this richer, riper style, has impeccable warmth. If you combined all the critical praise over the years for ACV’s hedonistic Cabernets from the likes of Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, even Jeb Dunnuck, descriptions like “smokin’ good,” “rich, full-bodied,” “impressive,” “dark and enticing,” “virile personality,” “endowed with serious power and depth,” all apply to this vivid, yet rich and polished Napa Pinot. Winemaker Rob Anderson bottled this vintage earlier than usual to capture the ripe, pure, fruit flavors and it worked. It just explodes out of the glass with ample aromas.