Today’s wine, a limited-availability steal, is very highly recommended. But please hurry. At today’s price, this wine may not last the day.

We know that you’ve been waiting for the return of Matias Wines, and winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who rose to winemaking fame at Williams-Selyem Winery and Robert Sinskey Vineyards. If you haven’t tasted Dan’s wine, this is your chance to try one that delivers tremendous value - at a great price.

This Pinot Noir has surprising density for the varietal with a dark garnet core, transitioning first to ruby red then to a thin ring of auburn. The nose on this wine instantly hooks you with an extremely complex yet also perfectly integrated bouquet of rose, violets, redwood, sandalwood, lemon verbena, satsuma tangerine, and cedar. My goodness… Taking a sip, all that beauty carries through to the palate: lush red fruit of strawberry and blueberry with tangerine that pops! There is a generous serving of holiday spice with a rich blackberry twist for the finish. With all the flavors and aromas going on here, it’s no surprise that this is an exceptionally constructed Pinot with lush tannin and smooth mouthfeel that blankets the entire palate all the way through a very long finish. This wine is so good, the only pairing required is good company to share it with.

About the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA:

The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA (American Viticultural Area) is located in Monterey County, California. It is part of the broader Monterey AVA which is one of California’s finest. This important sub-AVA is located in the Santa Lucia Mountains above the Salinas Valley, which is one of California’s premier agricultural areas.

Over 2,300 acres (931 ha) of vineyards are planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, with vineyards that rest at elevations as high as 1,200 feet above sea level. About half of the grapes planted here are Pinot Noir. The region enjoys cool morning fog and breezes from Monterey Bay followed by warm afternoons, thanks to direct southern exposures to the sun.