2009 Anthill Farms Tina Marie Vineyard Pinot Noir

Anthill Farms in Healdsburg, California, was started by three young winemakers who met when they worked together at Williams Selyem. Anthony Filiberti, David Low and Webster Marquez decided to make their own single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, and their debut release was in 2004. They quickly gained a cult following at famous restaurants in the Bay Area, and Anthill now produces 1,500 cases a year. Though Anthill is best known for Pinot Noir, it also makes a Syrah.

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.