Stuhlmuller Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2023

Chapter 24 Pinot rang in the New Year by selling out - no countdown needed. Now we’re kicking things off with Stuhlmuller Pinot: 95 points, under $30, and ready to start the year on a very good note!

Stuhlmuller!!! Over 40 years of delectable Sonoma grapes, and I swear – these wines seem to get better and better every…single…YEAR! Last year was…WAS…my favorite ever, but this 2023 just dethroned the champ, and all I can say is LONG LIVE THE KING! We made a deal to score this at even better savings than the last go ‘round too – so yeah, pretty much no-brainers, whatever could you possibly be waiting for territory on this baddie. OVER 70% OFF and rocking 95 POINTS – this is pure, distilled PLEASURE that downloads right into your cerebral cortex.

Way, WAY under $30 makes this almost…ALMOST…too good to be true! If you don’t already know and love all things Stuhlmuller – here’s the deets you need before you hop like a mad bunny to your cart and load up on the good stuff. Roger and Carmen Stuhlmuller purchased the 150-acre Alexander Valley property back in 1982, with much of the property already planted in the 1970s. They sold fruit to some of Napa’s and Sonoma’s best (Souverain and Simi, to name a few), and in the mid 90s, their son, Fritz, decided to keep some of the fruit and make their own wines. This pinot is one of the few wines they make outside of their estate fruit – and they make the best of some long-time relationships to score access to a couple of Russian River’s very best vineyards – including a 30+ year old parcel planted by Gary Farrell, and farmed by generations of the famed Ulises Valdez clan. A wild mix of California’s and Burgundy’s, most prized clones, too – like Calera, Swan, Pommard, Martini, and Dijon 943. Pinot paradise, basically.

And the wine?! EXPLOSIVE! Crazy floral notes of hibiscus and rose petals, with orange zest, and this sweet and tart character of pomegranate tea. The flavors are cool and mineral-driven, with a juicy core of plums, cranberries, and old-fashioned black cherry cola. Some river rocks and star anise carry through to the finish – which is supple, silky, and elegantly rich. Absolute AMBROSIA, my friends – and well-deserving of the winery’s $85 price tag. But hey, we’re Last Bottle, so the fastest fingers among you can score this 95 POINT gem of Russian River Pinot for way under $30 today!

Now, go get ‘em!!!