2019 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 750 ml

“This wine puts the ACCESS in Wine Access.”

It was a bold claim, but our Master Sommelier, Sur Lucero, was pretty confident when he first introduced us to Ketcham Estate Pinot.

And boy was he right. 

Start with the expertise of a California icon: Michael Browne—yep, of Kosta Browne—not only made the first three vintages of Ketcham, but he set up their entire winemaking program. Add in a small 13-acre patch of prime Russian River terroir that’s supplied grapes for some of the best wineries in Sonoma, including Rochioli and Williams Selyem.

Finally, factor in vines that go back a full half-century and a 95-point year that Wine Spectator called “A benchmark vintage for California Pinot.” The result is a bottle that EVERYONE who loves California Pinot would kill to get their hands on. 

When the late Mark Ketcham bought his dream vineyard in 2000, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. It was in the heart of Russian River Valley and planted to both Pinot and Chardonnay, but Ketcham was a Pinot guy at heart, so he turned to to Joe Rochioli and Burt Williams, of Williams Selyem, along with Burt’s winemaker Bob Cabral—not a bad bunch to consult.  

One thing they were all adamant about: not touching the Pinot Noir vines. Planted in 1973, long before Pinot was the signature grape of the region, these half-century-old vines produce the fruit that goes into this bottle.

In 2019—a fantastic vintage with “with wines showing power, finesse and the structure for cellaring,” according to Wine Spectator—those gnarled beasts issued beautiful fruit. The resulting wine is a top-notch example of what makes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir so coveted.