Enjoy today’s stunning steal on a wine from one of California’s most legendary vineyards, the Bacigalupi Vineyard, in the Russian River Valley. This Montagu 2014 Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is one of the best deals you’ll find from us this month, and supply is limited, so please reserve yours soon.

This wine shows off beautiful deep dark cherry at the core of the wine, pale cherry at the edges. Pairs of skinny legs slowly descend the glass wall after a good swirl. This wine bursts with the aromatic profile that makes the Russian River Valley the place for Pinot Noir in Sonoma County. On the nose, this wine shows off aromas deep aromas of spiced cherry candy, twigs, cherry cola, slate mineral, dried fall leaves, subtle mixed sweet spice, and a hint of gunpowder. On the palate, this Pinot delivers a dark, serious bevy of mixed fruit, spice, and earth, all in beautiful proportion. Black cherry, kola nut, plum, twigs, chalky earth, dry spice, and a delightful note of subtle bergamot. Soft and supple on entry, with a softly dry yet elegant conclusion. Gradually, a soft dryness spreads to the lips and cheeks, drying the palate and reminding the sipper to enjoy another delicious tug of this great wine. Enjoy this delightful wine with fresh salmon or tuna sushi burgers. Don’t know what that is? Look it up. Your life will never be the same again.

Montagu is a family-owned winery that was founded by Weston Eidson. The inspiration for today’s wine came when Weston worked with Jason Moore from Modus Operandi Cellars (We’re big fans of Jason and his wines!) during the 2012 harvest in the Napa Valley.

Montagu is a tribute to Weston’s great-grandfather, John, who was the second Lord of Beaulieu and a British automotive pioneer who was the first person to drive an automobile into Parliament. John’s son, and Weston’s great uncle Edward, the third Lord of Montagu, continues his legacy having founded the British National Motor Museum and works to preserve British history. He also is a lover of wine and has his own vineyard that he planted in southern England. The winery focuses on single-vineyard wines, like today’s stunning steal from the Bacigalupi Vineyard.

Today’s Pinot Noir comes hails from grapes grown by the world renown Bacigalupi family, whose vineyards in the Russian River Valley are nothing short of legendary. In fact, the winning wine from the same vineyard from which sprang the winning wine in the iconic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 (also known as the Judgment of Paris).

This event was a wine competition organized in Paris on 24 May 1976 by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant, in which French judges carried out two blind tasting comparisons: one of top-quality Chardonnays and another of red wines. A Californian wine rated best in each category, which caused shock and wonderment as France was generally regarded as being the foremost producer of the world’s best wines. Spurrier sold only French wine and believed that the California wines could not possibly win.

The Russian River Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), in Sonoma County, produces Pinot Noir of remarkable distinction. The cooler maritime conditions of the region make the Russian River Valley ideal for growing Pinot Noir. This AVA was officially designated in 1983, but many of the wines in the region used the designation as early as the 1970s (early in California’s wine history) with the many of the vines having been first planted in the early 1900s.