V. Sattui Winery, Los Carneros, Napa Valley (California) Pinot Noir 2019

 What a pleasure it is to find Pinot Noir with depth of flavor but also delicacy and intricacy, and all at a reasonable price.  This shows lovely fruit with both red tones recalling wild strawberries and some darker notes reminiscent of Bing cherries, and also a pleasantly herbal undertone that suggest some whole clusters may have made it into the fermentation vessels.  These herbal or “leafy” aromas and flavors keep the wine from seeming grapey or obvious, and they do that very effectively rather than leaving the job to overtly oaky notes, which can easily mar Pinot with toasty or vanillin aspects, or render the finish harsh with wood tannins.  Very well grown and quite deftly crafted.  A Platinum Award winner at the 2022 San Diego International Wine and Spirits Challenge.