La Pitchoune fans, rise up! You ask for more, and we deliver another thriller from this much-loved producer.

And you know we had to break off 57% from that $68 retail. Had to! Try $29! Hope you have the hand movement of a Pit Viper to snipe some before it’s gone - and yes it will be gone.

(But don’t worry. We’re prepared for that.)

La Pitchoune means “the little one” and the Nielsens model their wines after the best of Burgundy. Typically, their wines show the finesse and freshness of Pinot, but this brings a little more oomph and concentration to the table. Holder Vineyard is a tiny, minuscule site looking down on Occidental. It’s farmed by a lovely couple who tore out the apple trees and replaced them with vines in 2000. A handful of wines lay claim to this fruit.

About the wine though - it’s immensely pleasing stuff. Russian River generally brings a little richer, warmer style but La Pitchoune likes to pick fruit a little earlier, so it has this beautiful elegance to balance it out. Brimming with black cherry and pomegranate, rose petals, a cornucopia of baking spices, and just the right amount of toasty oak. Some gorgeous kinds of candied floral rose/lavender notes, too. It’s sexy, sappy, and a mid-weight Pinot that comes straight down the middle with bright acidity to balance out the ripeness. If you can’t find something to like here, you might need a check-up.

Tucked in the Southwestern corner of Russian River Valley’s precious Green Valley sub-AVA, Holder is surrounded by Dutton and Heintz Vineyards. Though these newer vintages due to tiny production, did not get reviewed, accolades abound from the past years, Jeb Dunnuck calling La Pichoune’s Holder “another complex, layered, thoroughly satisfying Pinot Noir from winemaker Andrew Berg” and Wine Enthusiast echoing *“a bright, acid-driven wine, citrus-laden alongside crisp, tart red fruit and a light-bodied approach to ripeness…”

Very little made. And very little to be had. If you are still reading this, the clock is ticking!