“Wilson’s touch with Pinot Noir is quite remarkable, and her wines have a crystalline freshness to them that I’ve always admired. - Vinography

There’s plenty of good Pinot to be found. Not this good and not at this price point, of course.

Around $30 usually gets you a pretty decent entry. Simple, but decent Pinot.

On most days.

Today in Wine Spies Land we’re launching a new pick from Anaba Cellars. Owner and Founder John Sweazey pulled out all the stops recently and it shows in some fantastic wines.

At $30 you start to flirt with the possibility you might get a sense of something extra - Winemakers who can source from top sites infuse a little something something. Call it terroir or knowing where a clone’s most expressive conditions thrive.

That’s how you level up from a normal, grocery market Pinot into something worth remembering. You get a Pinot with swerve in its curve and zip in the sip.

Sonoma Coast seem to be a breeding ground for some of California’s best and most impressive up and coming producers. Kosta Browne, Merry Edwards, Williams Selyem, Littorai Wines and Hirsch Vineyards have reigned for years and now heavy hitters like Emeritus Vineyards, Freeman, RYME and Claypool Cellars are coming in hot with quality and prestige. And you can count Anaba among them.

For years they had Ross Cobb leading the winemaking approach. He set a high-water mark but when his business partner, Katy Wilson took overs, new heights were reached. It has the duality of Pinot that gives your brain a little workout - at once lithe and silky smooth, but also jam packed with red cherry, pomegranate, and near ripe strawberries. But still packing a fair amount of deep, primary fruit, wonderful acidity and gentle wood spices.

Katy brings her own impressive resume that includes Testarossa, Torbreck and Joseph Phelps. Not to mention she leaves her mark on some of these hippest wines from the area like Reeve Cellars, Smith Story Wine Cellars as well as Les Claypool’s wine. As Ross left and Wilson took full reign, they bridged the gap perfectly and their combined history of collaboration

This Pinot Noir over delivers in all the ways. Blind taste this baby against any WS or KB and I’m sure you’d stumble to discern which wins out on elegance.

Sonoma Coast has a reputation for more finessed side of the region. A little brighter fruit and lift, with depth and minerality. Bright acidity and complex layers of fresh forest, cola and red fruits. This is a wine that will age beautifully if you can keep yourself from drinking them all before it can. Seriously, this is a wine to watch.

Treat Future You. You’ll thank us.

93 Points - Wine Advocate “The 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was matured in 25% new French oak for 20 months. It has intense aromas of cranberry sauce, bitter orange, aniseed, woodsmoke and cardamom. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with savory, red fruit. It has fine, tea-textured tannins, a bright spine of acidity and a long, spicy finish. Drink 2024-2030.”