2018 Alazan Pinot Noir

Alazan is our top Pinot Noir and a sommelier favorite for its sophistication and depth. Named after Peter Kingston’s burgundy-colored horse in the 1950’s, Alazan is a limited, reserve bottling made from a few special cuarteles in the Kingston vineyard.

We are drawn to wines that seem to straddle the old world and the new, with the mineral notes and tension that old world wines often have (and new world wines can lack) along with generous, forward fruit like the best of the new world. There is a bit of that in the 2018 Alazan, which opens with an iron and mineral note that is followed by an underlying pretty, almost candied-but not cooked-red fruit. On the
palate, it’s vibrant—ripe fruit with fresh acidity, and a lingering sweet grapiness. It’s surprisingly plush for having just 12.5% alcohol. Read more in Byron Kosuge's tasting notes ››