Hibou Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2020
Pinot Noir | US
A lushly aged, endlessly drinkable, 94 point Mendocino-grown Pinot from a tiny, high-end producer… and our inside track brings it to you for a superb price.
We love a winemaker with extra hustle. To secure the pristine fruit for his micro-label, Hibou, this CIA-trained chef turned winemaker didn't just send emails – he packed a picnic basket with homemade pâté and Champagne, drove out to the countryside, and knocked on a farmhouse. That bold charm paid off, granting Jason Driscoll and his wife Hillary access to some of the finest plots in Sonoma and Mendocino.
At six years past harvest, this 2020 Anderson Valley bottling is perfectly hitting its stride for anyone who loves a lusciously settled-in red. The color shows just a hint of tawniness at the rim, opening with a complex nose that’s like eating a warm cherry strudel while reading a dusty copy of Anna Karenina. On the palate, we get a juicy core of raspberries, textured with cherry fruit leather and dried apricot. Notes of toffee, black pepper, and a graham cracker drive a cozy finish. It’s elegant and layered, integrated and rich – but still lively! Considering the 94 point score, an excellent value.
In their review, Decanter praised its "alluring aromas of bright candied red cherry fruit and brown spices with loamy earth notes," calling it "creamy with vanilla-tinged raspberry and strawberry fruits, tobacco, sandalwood, and crisp tannins with a black tea quality, framed by blood orange acidity."
Mmm! Easy to drink, yet impressive – what more can you ask for, really?
About the Producer
Hibou is the French word for owl, a fitting emblem for winemaker and proprietor Jason Driscoll and his wife and co-proprietor Hillary Driscoll. He was previously winemaker at Elsom Cellars, a small family winery in Woodinville, Washington. Jason always loved Sonoma Coast wines, but was unsure how he would come to be able to work with the fruit. So, patient and keen as an owl, he explored. Eventually, he found what he was looking for in Riddle Vineyard. He drove out, found Jim Riddle's farmhouse, and knocked on the door with a picnic basket in hand. Over homemade pate, a bottle of Champagne, and a walk through the vineyard, Jason and Jim established a friendship and cut a deal. Jim promised two small blocks of fruit for Jason's project. Every vineyard site since has been secured in the same way, more or less. Jason packs a picnic basket and takes a chance. The result is a portfolio of wines that embody something unpredictable and alive – each one sourced from exceptional vineyards and allowed to evolve into its truest self over time.
- Blend100% Pinot Noir
- WinemakerJason & Hilary Driscoll
- CountryUS
- RegionNorth Coast
- AppellationMendocino County
- Farming MethodSustainable
- OakFrench oak barrels, 12% new
- Alcohol14.6%