Pinot Noir, 2017. Leghorn

Leghorn is crafted by Tom Meadowcroft, an international winemaker with a passion for Pinot Noir. Since the price of land in Burgundy was out of range, he chose the next best thing, The Petaluma Gap in Sonoma. Leghorn is named after a genus of chicken raised in Petaluma that was so famous for its production that the city became known as the "Egg Capital of the World."

Then wine came along. Petaluma is now dotted with wineries up and down its sloping hillsides. Its cool marine influence is perfect for Pinot Noir, which is apparent in the incredible wines from here. The gravel and limestone soil provides the nutrients for the vines, while the temperature provides a long growing season in which to draw more nutrients from the soil.

Pinot Noir is the most favored grape of those in the wine business. In a study done 30 years ago of restauranteurs, retail owners and wine wholesalers, Pinot Noir was the favored grape, even against Cabernet Sauvignon. If the people who sell wine like Pinot Noir more than anything else, it's no wonder that it now enjoys the popularity that it does. The movie Sideways was only reflecting a sentiment that was already building.

Our selection is a classic example of its popularity. It has now rested in the bottle long enough to show its virtue. The rose petals, cherry, and candied violets are forming a cohesive whole that is integrated into one expression, remarkable. Here is an aged wine for the ages and begs for pheasant and foie gras.

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