Decoy Limited, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir, 2022

This is a really gorgeous, high-quality Pinot Noir that offers all the charm and elegance that you hope for in well-made American wines. The handling of the Pinot Noir is excellent and you never think for a moment that it is either too heavy nor too light. The effect is a beautiful, open air, sun-setting red at the end of a warm late-summer's day. 

Fresh ripe cranberry and raspberry flavours are framed by a gorgeous earthy note on the nose that leads to a palate of black cherry, bramble, raspberry and beautifully integrated oak spice, balanced by refreshing acidity, so important in good Pinot Noirs. Those flavours linger long on the soft and easy finish.

The winery reckon this is perfect with movie nights or roast chicken... I'm not sure I can argue, but I would fight this wine's corner a little stronger by mentioning that it is delicious with a very wide range of cuisine, from warn salads and rich fish dishes, to game, poultry and roast meats. Because of the lighter tannins, it's also a great match for spicy cuisine, so whether you're having wings or ribs, satay or Sichuan, you're very much able to enjoy this as a delicious accompaniment. Like a movie night I guess... 

Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, 40% of which were new and the remainder being old, neutral barrels, enhancing the structure and depth of the oft-delicate Pinot grapes.

Decoy was established in 1985 as a sort of second label to the Duckhorn winery. Its following allowed the brand to grow and develop in to land purchases and eventually the creation of its own winery as a stand alone project in 2008. The range of wines made by Decoy certainly has its origins in the Duckhorn winery, following the classic varietals and winemaking philosophies that are there, but there is an elegance and liveliness to these wines that seems to be more vital, held by excellent tension. The other thing that really marks out Decoy is that they operate with fruit from outside Napa - this is a winery that represents the rest of California, in glorious, detailed precision with generosity and charm. This is a range of wines that is a most unusual thing in the US: high quality and affordable.

This wine comes from the most recent release of Decoy wines, their 'Decoy Limited' series, that sources grapes for each wine from one specific sub-region within California. Pinot Noir doesn't do wonderfully well in all climates and needs the climate that the Sonoma Coast offers: cooler more moderate temperatures that avoid heat spikes suffered by other parts of California, yielding grapes that have balancing freshness within the structure of ripeness of fruit. This therefore allows the winery to select from parcels with complete focus on a style that they want, which is unsurprisingly bright, fresh and fruity, but backed by California's sunshine and a very careful use of oak barrels. It's a very clever attitude, showcasing grape variety, regional traditions and micro-climate, that really gives a stunning wine. And, again at serious value!

Names don't win prizes, but if they did, I'd give a prize to Dan Duckhorn. A hybrid Beano-Warner Brother's legend, he'd be feared for disrupting mayhem with his trusty fowl-imitation device that would render the culprit unable to continue in their misdemeanour upon hearing its mighty quack. But in truth Dan and Margaret set up their Duckhorn winery in 1976 and two years later released 800 cases each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. From then they have become one of Napa's leading producers, specialising (almost uniquely for the region) as producers of spectacular Merlot.