“Gorgeous, consistently expressive, and terroir-specific wines.” – Food & Wine

Happy Valentine’s Day with Angel Camp! Top-tier Pinot for a ridiculous price…

D-G is back and priced more approachable than ever. With the usual cadre of big scores, this 95-point, single-vineyard (plus multiple 93-94 point raves) from the prized heart of cool Anderson Valley is a must-have.

The Dutton name is to Sonoma-bred Pinot what Beckstoffer is to Napa-born Cab. When you see it, you know one thing is guaranteed: excellent fruit sources and unparalleled winemaking.

This normally runs $74, and we’re dropping it for under $30. This kind of quality-to-price ratio doesn’t come around very often with Pinots.

Dutton-Goldfield combines Steve Dutton’s impeccable vision and legendary vineyard management with veteran Dan Goldfield’s virtuoso winemaking. Together, they oversee and pull from some absolute prime sites all over Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

This one comes from a particularly rugged one called Angel Camp, a few hundred feet above the Anderson Valley floor in Mendocino. With late-ripening vines and multiple clones planted here, this tends to be one of their most expressive and complex Pinots.

Dan brings vigorous knowledge and experience to the winemaking here, having worked at Robert Mondavi, Schramsberg, La Crema, and Hartford Court where he defined what ultra-premium Pinot Noir means. He and Steve Dutton team up in a force that few can compete with.

Quite lush and flush with ripe fruits, this shows plenty of juicy red cherry and strawberry jam with fantastic star anise and cranberry spice mingling with cedar and a kiss of new French oak. Bright acidity and lush, elegant tannins make this a perfect Pinot for Pinot lovers. A wild mushroom risotto, a roasted whole duck, a sockeye salmon steak… the pairing possibilities are endless with this intense beauty.

95 Points – International Wine Report “The Angel Camp Vineyard, located slightly west of the town of Philo, is owned by Dan Goldfield’s friend Brian Zalaznick, who planted the vineyard in memory of his brother and family. The Pinot begins with aromatics of red cherry, lavender, Shitake mushroom and forest floor. There are ripe flavors of red cherry, red raspberry and black truffle. There is a lovely weight, texture and balance to this fruity Pinot.”

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast “The nose notes rich, supple aromas of black plum, raspberry, chicory, and toasty vanilla. The fresh, lively flavors on the palate are youthful wild strawberry, satsuma orange, Fuji persimmon, crystallized ginger, and a long, spiced, lip-smacking finish. Decant or Drink until 2035 pair with roasted cordon bleu chicken.”

93 Points – Owen Bargreen “The outstanding 2022 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Angel Camp Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this 10-acre site in the Anderson Valley owned by Brian Zalaznick. It is wonderfully salty and earthy, with salted wet stone nuance on the palate, followed by wild blackberry and black cherry notes. Medium-bodied and already nicely evolved, enjoy over the next eight years.”

93 Points – James Suckling “Pleasing aromas of rosewater, bergamot tea, turned soil and raspberry bush. The fruit character carries through on the palate, with a finish reminiscent of tomato garden. Balanced and fresh, with a light body. Drink now.”