In the years that we’ve been featuring Coho’s wines, we’ve never been able to get our hands on their highly prized and tightly allocated Pinots. Today, thanks to some persistent cajoling, we have their coveted Coho Wines 2014 Stanley Ranch Los Carneros Pinot Noir. Congratulations, Operative. This exclusive is for you.

If you’re not on Coho’s Allocation list, you can’t buy today’s wine… unless you’re a Wine Spies Operative! Today’s Coho Wines 2014 Stanley Ranch Los Carneros Pinot Noir is a beautiful expression of the Pinot-perfect Carneros AVA - and a varietally correct expression of the oft fussy Pinot grape.

This Pinot Noir has a beautiful mulberry purple-red shade that spreads out to an auburn edge. The wine has an opulent, fragrant, varietally-correct nose of concord grape, black cherry, blueberry pie, peach and graham cracker. It follows through wonderfully on the palate with fresh strawberry jam, juicy red plum, cherries picked off the tree, cranberry, and allspice. You’ll find it to be extremely approachable, with a richer mouthfeel than your average Pinot, yet with soft tannin that the grape is known for. Don’t be shy about having this wine with lunch. Go for a BL(A)T stacked high on toasted brioche and you’ll be in heaven.

This wine is a shining example of perfect Carneros Pinot Noir. The Carneros AVA (American Viticultural Area) which was officially designated in 1983, and straddles Sonoma and Napa Counties, is the cradle of California Pinot Noir.