You know we’re always on the hunt for a bargain. And this stuff - WOW. Love, love, LOVED it at a recent tasting.

Anytime we find a sub-$20 Pinot Noir this good we immediately set to work locking it down. After all, most Pinot under $20 is, frankly, CRAP. The “Heartbreak Grape” isn’t just expensive to grow and make into wine - it can easily break your own heart. And the truly special ones have a tendency to break the bank.

Not this one!

Talk about hiding, tucked away in the premium Pinot haven of Edna Valley, around the corner from the legendary Alban and Talley vineyards, lies this tiny, mom and pop property. They’re easy to miss as the smallest winery in the appellation. You won’t find their wines in the big box stores - or even the small wine shops for that matter.

You’ll find it here - today, while it lasts!

Wow, and we mean wow. A little bit of age here did WONDERS as it drinks like a hypothetical blend of Russian River with Vosne-Romanée. Yes, it’s that unctuous and rich, yet ethereal and light on its feet. A little spicy and earthy, and mouthwateringly juicy. Satisfying Pinotness from head to toe, with the ripe raspberries and cranberries rolling in dusty cinnamon here, maybe a couple of Milk Duds thrown in there. Cherries, both red and black join the party, while the finish is impressively lengthy with more juicy berries and hints of vanilla and cherry cola adding complexity. Cliché as it may be, can’t think of a better candidate to define what a “food Pinot” is.

A little espionage reveals the fascinating story of proprietor / winemaker Romeo ‘Meo’ Zuech. Born in Italy, he is an advocate of the “you have to know how to make good wine before you can grow good grapes” philosophy, probably because it took rocket science to get to that conclusion. LITERALLY! For most of his career, he was an Aerospace Engineer working closely with NASA, the Apollo missions and his contributions lead to the first man on the Moon. Making great wine after that must come easy, right?!

All in all, marvelous single-vineyard Pinot is hard to pass at nearly half off. Counting down T minus X cases to launch, to where no Pinot has gone before!