THE PERFECT THANKSGIVING WINE

(And Christmas, Too!)

The case of CamX Lot 31 2023 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir showed up on my birthday (11/05) and I opened my "test bottle" in the late afternoon, just as November's long shadows began to darken our back yard. A $10 Pinot Noir from the bulk market? I was seriously skeptical. After all, my good fortune in sourcing "$60 Wines For $20" had thus far included very few noteworthy Pinot Noirs. Now they're offering a $60 Pinot Noir for $10? To be honest, I ordered this wine mostly to test my theory that wine wizard Cameron Hughes might be doubling down on value, either to snag more devotees, OR, perhaps, because wine economics are shifting sharply toward consumer-friendliness.

Dear Readers, this wine was so freaking delicious that the bottle was mysteriously empty not long after sunset... so freaking delicious that it further inflamed my cynicism about the long-term viability of the Californian high-end wine industry.

What makes this wine so great? It was richer, fruitier, and more vibrant than I had expected.

Here's Cam's description--

Age-worthy, complex and archetypal, Lot 31 Sonoma Coast Pinot comes to us from a legendary producer who had "a little bit left over from our recent bottling". They were eager to get it out before harvest so I was able to negotiate a very good price for you.

Normally $60 per bottle at the winery (I see it $45-$60 in the trade), this perfectly ripe Pinot Noir from the dynamite, as perfect-as-it-gets 2023 vintage can be had for the incredible price of just $119/case DELIVERED!

With fruit sourced from a mix of estate- and family-owned Sonoma Coast vineyards, this producer is as responsible as anybody for putting California Pinot Noir on the map. Again, we have a no-expense-spared, first-run production aged in ~25-30% new French oak. It is an absolute steal at this price!

Indeed, ladies and gents, it's time to back up the truck!

Beautiful bouquet of bright Bing cherry, cranberry with lovely earl gray and forest floor accents showcasing the cool beauty and precision of the 2023 harvest. Saline and earthy umami notes increase with air. Even with just a few weeks in the bottle, the palate architecture is seamless and nicely integrated with exceptional fruit purity. Pretty cherry and juicy raspberry glide effortlessly over the palate with freshness, energy, and perfect balance leading to a long, sustained finish that resonates with pretty red fruits, earl grey tea and earthy umami notes in perfect chorus. I have to say this wine has fantastic length and purity. Equal parts complex and delicious!

Trust me on this one...

100% Pinot Noir; 100% Sonoma Coast; 14% alcohol. 300 cases available.

I'll add that this Pinot Noir has all the makings of a perfect holiday season wine-- fruity enough to pair with regular turkey, sophisticated enough to to pair with a fancy Mail-Order Turkey, and yet also sturdy enough for your Christmas Prime Rib.

I recommend ordering this wine NOW via the link in the first sentence, for I suspect that upon first taste, many customers will quickly re-order it, as I just did.

For our long-form takes on the incomparable pleasures of Pinot Noir, check out these two essays-- THE ROYAL BROTHERS and Bottled Freaking Heaven.