Thomas T. Thomas Vineyards, Anderson Valley (Mendocino County, California) Pinot Noir 2018

 Thomas T. Thomas is something of a Renaissance man.  He hails from my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, and studied music at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.  He then went on to get an MBA and worked in the corporate world; however, a trip to Burgundy in 1999 opened his eyes to wine.  Fast forward, he developed his brand in 2017, becoming  one of the few African American winemakers in northern California.  Notably, the art adorning his wine labels is his artistic creation.  His 2018 Thomas T. Thomas  Buster’s Hill Pinot Noir will undoubtedly become one of California’s highest praised Pinot Noirs.  This 2018 is loaded with raspberry, black cherry, rhubarb, and perfectly integrated baking spices.  The structured palate offers swells of fresh acidity and polished, fine-grained tannins.  It is the pinnacle of North California’s essence.  It’s a joy to drink and greatly over-performs more expensive estate bottlings from California.