2021 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Five Clone Russian River Valley 750 ml

“This wine puts the ACCESS in Wine Access.”

It was a bold claim, but our Master Sommelier, Sur Lucero, was pretty confident when he first introduced us to Ketcham Estate Pinot.

And boy was he right. 

Start with the expertise of a California icon: Michael Browne—yep, of Kosta Browne—not only made the first three vintages of Ketcham, but he set up their entire winemaking program. Add in a small 13-acre patch of prime Russian River terroir that’s supplied grapes for some of the best wineries in Sonoma, including Rochioli and Williams Selyem. Finally, factor in vines that go back a full half-century.

Their Five Clone Pinot Noir combines small lots of each different clone—115, 828, 667, 777, and Pommard 4—planted in their estate vineyard. It’s a perfect snapshot of a vintage in Sonoma that Vinous rated 97 points.

When the late Mark Ketcham bought his dream vineyard in 2000, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. It was in the heart of Russian River Valley and planted to both Pinot and Chardonnay, but Ketcham was a Pinot guy, so he turned to the best people he knew to help.

He turned to Joe Rochioli and Burt Williams, of Williams Selyem, along with Burt’s winemaker Bob Cabral—not a bad bunch to consult. They helped him replant the Chardonnay vines, and in return, Ketcham allowed them to buy fruit off his property. 

One thing they were all adamant about: not touching the Pinot Noir vines. Planted in 1973, long before Pinot was the signature grape of the region, these half-century-old vines are some of the oldest in Russian River Valley—and the fruit they produce go into this bottle.