2018 Westwood Vineyards Pinot Noir Annadel Gap Sonoma County 750 ml

Last year, we fought to grab every bottle we could of Westwood’s Annadel Gap Pinot Noir—and what we got wasn’t enough. Made by two 100-point winemaking stars, sourced from some of the most coveted vineyards in Sonoma, and offered at a healthy discount, the allocation sold out quickly, leaving four-dozen four- and five-star reviews in its wake.

Today, we’re thrilled to bring you its successor. Grown in what Vinous calls Sonoma County’s greatest year ever for Pinot Noir—a stunning 98-point vintage—and crafted by 100-point icons Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky, it’s a stunner that stands with the region’s best. 

In the heart of the blustery Petaluma Gap, the Terra de Promissio Vineyard has captivated some of Pinot’s biggest power players, including Williams Selyem, Senses, and Metzker. 

Westwood paired Terra de Promissio’s concentrated and complex Pinot Noir with lots from the biodynamically farmed Annadel Gap Vineyard. A touch north of the Petaluma Gap in the Sonoma Valley AVA, this estate site is nestled between Sonoma Mountain and Mount Hood, where winds and 40- to 50-degree nighttime temperature drops temper the rising heat of sunny afternoons. 

After hand-harvesting the grapes in the middle of the night to preserve their vibrant acidity, the wine team fermented each clone individually, allowing the master vintners to fine-tune the blend to achieve an ideal balance. A cellar treatment of 18 months in 41% new French oak topped everything off by imbuing a spice-laden warmth.The result is a Pinot Noir with engaging complexity, intense flavors, and soft tannins.

It’s a truly inspired Pinot Noir from a winemaking tandem who never misses the mark.