$15, 92 Points: Insane for Russian River Pinot
- 92 pts James Suckling92 pts JS
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2018 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Sonoma 750 ml
- Curated by unrivaled experts
- Choose your delivery date
- Temperature controlled shipping options
- Get credited back if a wine fails to impress
Pinot at Half of Russian River’s “Minimum” Price
The way-overperforming nature of this $15, 92-point 2018 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley will surprise no one who’s claimed our offers bearing the Martin Ray or Courtney Benham labels in the last year: Angeline is Benham’s Russian River-based outpost, and in classic Benham fashion, it delivers outstanding value in every lip-smacking bottle.
This Pinot knocks it out of the park because Benham’s long history in the Russian River region allows him to source stellar fruit from this world-famous Pinot Noir mecca, where the cool ocean-influenced climate and unique Goldridge soils have made this site a top destination of Pinot growers for decades.
Our Master Sommelier Sur Lucero raved about the stellar 2018 Angeline Pinot, poured it for our Wine Team, and it sold itself from the very first sip. It’s got everything we expect from Russian River Pinot priced from $30 to infinity: gorgeous aromas of dark red and black fruits, accents of hibiscus, cola, and licorice, and a juicy red-fruited palate adorned with Tahitian vanilla.
We’re stocking up on this bottle, and suggest you do the same. A ripe and silky drink-anytime Pinot with a Master Somm’s endorsement, 92-point score, AND $15 price tag doesn’t come along often—and will disappear fast.
Courtney Benham turns in incredible wines year in and year out, but rose above in 2018, because the flawless Sonoma County vintage blessed all bottlings, from the top-end triple-digit reds to the everyday drinkers. A late budbreak occurred in a spring with little concern about frost, and the vines enjoyed a season with sufficient rain and steadily rising temperatures. A few tiny and manageable heat spikes enhanced ripening in the summer, until a temperate August allowed complex flavors to develop slowly, and winemakers to pick a bountiful harvest at their leisure.
The season was perfect for a vintner like Benham, who delivers value every single time—and truly knocks it out of the park in top vintages. This is the kind of Russian River Pinot you’d expect to pay $30 or more for. Today, it’s half that. It’s always a great time for a wine (and a price) like this.