Estate grown and dry farmed, the 2014 Square Peg Pinot Noir is feminine in style, showcasing balance and concentration. Due to the lack of water during the growing season, roots struggle and dig deep to find water and minerals. In the end, this struggle produces a captivating, complex Pinot.

At first sip, the wine had a curious familiarity that I could not identify. Then, I found out that winemaker William Knuttel was at the helm for crafting this beauty. He’s made almost every Russian River wine that you’ve probably tasted over the last 35 years, including Saintsbury, Chalk Hill and Dry Creek Vineyard.

What you’ll love about this wine is its strikingly beautiful yin and yang balance. It’s taught, tart and sweet, with complex, layered undertones of juicy red fruits and spice.

opah

It’s a pretty style that pairs well with anything slightly smoked or earthy. We paired it with grilled opah with blood orange gremolata, and smoked mushroom asparagus mélange. Am I making you hungry? Production is limited (170 case production), so buy it if you find it.

Excellent | $65 | 14.5 ABV