When Sir Walter Scott said, “fair play is a jewel.”, the famous 18th-century writer obviously was not talking about the California AVA. But this 98-point hidden gem from arguably the state’s most underrated wine growing region is a shining example of what’s possible when you look beyond the big-name areas like Napa or Sonoma.

With a rockstar winemaker behind the scenes and a 50% price drop on deck, you have a short window of time to lock some in before it’s gone.

As San Francisco Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonné noted, “Even by the standards of the mountains, Fair Play is up there - the appellation, created in 2001, has the highest average elevation of any in California. All the things that elevation can bring, including intense sunlight without baking heat, can be found in abundance. And so, it has become a spot for those who want to reach for the heights.”

Enter Kehret, stage left.

Bill and Bonnie Kehret arrived at their Mount Aukum estate, sitting at 2,615 feet elevation with a vision to plant vineyards and make wine in the early 2000s. To make this dream a reality, the brought winemaker extraordinaire Steve Leveque on as a consultant. Leveque’s resume includes Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Chalk Hill, and HALL where he worked alongside Michel Rolland, crafting countless high scoring wines.

Needless to say, these wines left our panel spellbound with their intensity and finesse. Highly detailed, with fresh pepper, floral, spice, savory and licorice accents to the vivid, deep core of wild blackberries and cherry cordial. Rustic, firm tannins give this bold Petite a pleasant chewy quality, with more flavors soaring on the finish. This one too shares that magical balance found in the highest-elevation wines in the world, be it Mendoza, or Ribera, at a price grounded as can be.

Oh, and the only press we could find for this one is 98 points and Double Gold in the 2021 Sunset International Wine Competition.

Do not miss out on this PS on steroids either!