2019 Zo Wines Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard Anderson Valley 750 ml

Anderson Valley is some of the most coveted Pinot-growing country in the world—a place whose vineyards are relied upon by top names like Black Kite and Rhys. Wentzel Vineyard, sitting at 900 feet of elevation, feels like a little bit of paradise.

Roland and Barbara Wentzel’s tiny vineyard is vibrant and clearly very alive. The Wentzels tend lovingly to a mere 10 acres of vines—not to mention animals and a lush vegetable garden that lets them live off the land—but those are set in over 300 acres of wild forests. It’s a diverse ecosystem with an energy that seems to drive the vines into producing Pinot Noir of unusual electricity, juicy fruit, and elegant tannins.

Given the size of the vineyard, there’s not much Wentzel fruit to go around, so when winemaker David Eckert got a call that some was available, he jumped at the chance. And in 2019—a cool year that will go down as a modern classic for Anderson Valley Pinot Noir—he scored a knockout.

Boldly aromatic, with classic Wentzel aromatics of wild ripe raspberries, juicy pomegranates, and a hint of cola, it’s a captivating wine. Once you take a sip, those bright red fruits power across the palate, driving exotic spices and a vibrancy that demands another sip—and suggests that a bite of food might be nice as well.

This Pinot goes great with a wide range of complementary dishes—we’ve been loving the classic cedar-planked salmon pairing over the last few weeks, but grilled halloumi cheese on a tomato salad was also a slam dunk.