2018 DeLoach Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 750 ml

Russian River Pinot Noirs are some of the best in the world, and some of the most expensive: Their prices can reach triple digits, with even the best values usually commanding $50 or more. That’s why, when we’re offered a Pinot from a marquee Russian River winery backed by one of Burgundy’s biggest names, we expect an exceptional wine… and a blockbuster price tag.

The 2018 DeLoach Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a true outlier: It delivers the former, but leaves off the latter.

Bright ruby-red, bursting with red fruit, and awash in gorgeous Russian River opulence, this is one of the most stunning values you can find in Russian River. Every last sip shows off DeLoach’s excellent vineyard sources, a vintage of pure perfection, and how the Boissets—the world-class wine family also behind Burgundy’s Bouchard Âiné & Fils and Napa Valley’s Raymond Vineyards—have spared no expense in ensuring that DeLoach lives up to it famous name. 

Over the last two decades, they’ve shown that quality is their ultimate priority, a trait exemplified by bottles like this. They’ve also been able to keep their prices low, something that is only possible because the Boisset family is so well-connected in California. 

This is the perfect bottle for anyone who loves California Pinot—but especially those who feel like somewhere along the way, Russian River prices left them behind. Simply put, it's an undeniable bargain.

DeLoach was founded by Cecil De Loach, the Wine Access-favorite winemaker who was one of the Russian River Valley’s true pioneers. When he sold the winery to the Boisset family, they signaled their seriousness by hiring David Ramey as a consulting winemaker, further elevating the excellent quality that DeLoach had already established. 

Today, DeLoach is helmed by fourth-generation winemaker Brian Maloney, who has crafted top-scoring, $100+ reds as winemaker at the historic Buena Vista Winery (an honor once held by the great André Tchelistcheff). At DeLoach, he’s backed by the Boissets’ uncompromising dedication to crafting top-quality wines, and the results are spectacular.  

The 2018 Pinot Noir hails from three sources: BCD, Murray, and the famed Heintz Vineyard. Aged for ten months in 20% new French oak that impairs a beautiful layer of exotic spice, the result is a gorgeous representation of Russian River Pinot Noir from a first-rate label, a world-class family, and one of the top vintages of all time. 

This is a bottle that brings the best of Russian River well within reach.