Atten-hut!!

Pinot people, this is not a drill! Leapfrog, army-crawl, or otherwise maneuver into position to secure as much of this 95-96 pointer as possible. Those of you who had our previous Lussier wines are securing your share. As Op Becky G put it, “his wines are fantastic, and this price is unheard of.”

On this Memorial Day, it’s only fitting that we bring you this Signal Ridge Pinot from G.W. Lussier. He served 7 years in the US Army, with tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning home to Napa Valley, a chance encounter at a bocce game led to a winemaking gig at Pahlmeyer. Then on to Williams Selyem for a stint making exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot. Today, he leads the charge at his own up-and-coming label with a similar mission: bringing single-vineyard Pinot Noirs to the public.

We also have the last tiny bit of the ever-so-popular double 94 pointer sub-$30 multi-vineyard blend of his for the day here at the Store!

This is the definition of a true locals-only, wine geekdom discovery. With minuscule production (just a few barrels each) and most sold via the mailing list, you won’t find these anywhere else.

And the price?! Less than $40 American dollars all the way down from $75!!

Lussier takes a minimalist style approach, starting with sourcing from a few highly regarded organic vineyards on steep hillsides at elevation - around 2.750(!) feet overlooking the Pacific at Signal Ridge, where it’s the ultimate “islands in the sky” with the cloud crop hanging out below the vineyards most days. He takes the hand-harvested fruit and ferments using native yeasts, including a fair amount of whole clusters. Next comes a modest time in used French oak. The result is a gorgeous, PURE expression loaded with character, soaring aromatics, and dramatic flavors.

Black cherry and raspberry coulis and blood orange and juicy pomegranate, oh my! Woven with forest floor, conifer, and crushed slate, and gentle, sweet tannins. Gorgeously bright acidity and unadorned purity abound here. Just fantastic and full of personality and immensely drinkable - but you could easily hold onto these for years, should you resist.

On this Memorial Day, we offer up a big salute to all those who served, are serving, or will serve. They’re the real heroes who allow us civilians to enjoy the luxuries of life. We urge you to take advantage of this, while it lasts – with only 4 barrels made!

96 Points – Wine Enthusiast “This is one of the region’s several high-elevation vineyard sites. It truly demonstrates the vineyard’s beauty and uniqueness. The expression is supple and focused, the aromas are spiced Bing cherry, black strawberry, dried savory herbs waft across the nose, and the nose becomes increasingly expansive, dense as the air caresses the liquid. The palate is vibrant and alive with a concentration of red fruits: raspberries, pink raspberries, tart-red plum, Blood Orange zest, and celery salt to create a lifted, mouthwatering finish. Decant and enjoy a drink until 2038.”

95 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Sultry, spicy, herbal, and mineral, the 2023 Pinot Noir Signal Ridge Vineyard has it all, tangy in layers of citrus and rhubarb, with tons of energy. From a high-elevation site, the tannins are well-mannered and supple, making room for the light-bodied layers of intensity better defined by fruit, forest, and fog than the warmth of the vineyard. Whole-cluster was dialed back to 17%. There’s structure to age for quite a while; drink now through 2035.”