“My man” (Denzel voice)

That’s what we said to Dusty when he bestowed not just one, or two, but FOUR of his wines into our trusted hands.

This is the second vintage of the DNW-SRH Pinot Noir. This is Dusty’s top bottling, with fruit from neighboring Bentrock and Radian Vineyards, two of the top terroirs in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation (also… both vineyards owned by Stan Kroenke, in his portfolio that includes Screaming Eagle and Bonneau du Martray). It’s a barrel selection of his favorites, blended to make the best wine, as he says, “that I can come up with regardless of vineyard source.”

Someone on Cellartracker wrote “Actually tasted next to Hilt estate and preferred this.” about the 2021 of this same wine, but still, that gives you a reference point.

As you’re probably aware, the wine industry is in a bit or turmoil at the moment. And the small, dedicated, family and solo winemakers are taking it on the chin. So just know that when you buy this, or any of the other DN wines available today, you’re supporting one of the nicest, most genuinely talented, and humble winemakers around.

Plus the wine is just wicked good.

We first met Dusty a few years ago at a tasting in Paso. His wines were outstanding. His demeanor friendly, humble, and chill. And if you had the Los Olivos Cab we offered a while back, you already have a glimpse at the quality, which is through the roof.

I’m going to quote one of my favorite curmudgeony-yet-sophisticated and knowledgeable wine personalities on Instagram on this one. Because not only does he know this wine well, but he has a way with words that’s not often seen among mortals. Stephen McConnell (aka Wine1percent), please forgive me for plagiarizing your review, but it’s just too perfect not to include here, and absolutely nails it.

“I don’t drink a lot of luxury Pinots. Anyone who has ever drank wine with me knows I steer clear of the reserve bottlings–often skipping them completely in a tasting. I’ve found–as a lot of you understand–the sumptuous reserve bottles often carry with them factors I find demeaning to the grape’s expression. I find the plain far more to my liking, with their typically lower alcohol, extraction and oak levels. This is not a popular opinion with the vast majority of wine-drinkers, but the more you delve into the variety, the more you like them RAW. This wine–a flagship bottling–strikes an easy balance between both of those worlds. The power and luxury is obvious. It’s clean and rich and elegant, showing ridiculous berry and brine on the nose in a deep–while still transparent–dark ruby body. Etches of tobacco and chocolate infiltrate the bouquet, but the base-line remains pure, Pinot fruit: dancingly light and almost effervescent.”

“In the mouth, NOTHING gets in the way of varietal bite. Delicious cranberry and sour apple lay firmly on a briary core, acid tingling every pore and tannin welcome at early points. It’s sharp. It’s bright. It’s complex: layered with funky magic we all demand in a pinot and which often get buried with the kind of things the 99% love in expensive, flagship bottlings. This producer has managed to take his dedication to the grape and place it firmly in a reserve blend of the region showcasing every item his ordinary bottles show individually.”

The tl;dr of all that?

This is some ridiculously good Pinot, with style, power, and grace all held together perfectly. And that part about the reserve bottlings? Well, at under *$30 you’re getting what might be the best Pinot deal of the year!* Simple as that.

92+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck “One of the few in the lineup seeing new oak, the 2022 Pinot Noir DNW-SRH, which comes from the Radian and Bentrock vineyards, was not destemmed and was aged in 100% new barrels. It’s tighter and more focused, with spiced red fruits (raspberries, redcurrants), toasted spices, dried flowers, and just hints of background oak. Beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and concentrated, it has a layered mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a distinct sense of salinity on the finish. Despite the new oak, it’s not overtly oaky and just comes across as a young, inward, beautifully balanced Pinot Noir that needs some bottle age.”

92 Points – Wine Enthusiast “Tart plum aromas are awash in peppercorn, bay leaf and wild, stemmy herbs on the nose of this bottling. Toasted bay leaf and sagebrush flavors lead the palate through tart black plum and wild elderberry flavors.”