The Mission wine buying team tastes hundreds of wines each month in search of the best representations of varietals and regions. Pinot Noir is always a staff favorite for its versatility. One of the wine regions that gets overlooked is the cool coastal Arroyo Grande AVA. Some notable Pinot Noirs that hail from this region would be Talley, Testarossa and Laetitia to name a few.

One wine that took us by surprise recently was the 2022 Fortitude Cellars Pinot Noir. I have followed this project and have enjoyed the development of Fortitudes wines for several years. Proprietor Martin Hein produces this wine from his small ranch in Arroyo Grande. Farming has been in Martins family for a hundred years. A lover of fine wine from around the globe Martin was inspired by the great wines of Burgundy, France.

In the glass this wine displays floral tones, red and black fruits along with forest floor and dried herbs. Flavors of cherry and raspberry along with a mineral edge give way to harmonious balance of vibrant acidity and firm but silky tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. I have had this wine with lamb, filets, and veal you name it. It always holds up. focused Drinking beautifully now this wine cellars extremely well as it is precisely balanced. Add this wine to your collection or gift it to a wine friend.

Cheers,
Robert