Ogden Pinot Noir Rio Del Mar Vineyard Santa Cruz County 2022

This one is for the light-red lovers. The lean queens. The flyweight pharaohs! Anyone who wants a ravishing river of flavor, but without the heaviness, high alcohol, or tannic punch in the face. We don't have much of this silky-succulent 91 point Pinot, so make your move soon.

Ogden Wine Co. is based in Napa, but like many hipper North Bay wineries, they trucked some grapes up from Santa Cruz early one harvest morning to add something different to the lineup. This pours a delicate translucent red, and it’s surprisingly flavorful considering that it rides so lightly on the palate. Our intention today was to taste and spit as usual, but oops, there went the whole pour. It has this irresistible salinity, and a fabulous prickle on the tongue that aids in lightning-quick flavor release as your mouth keeps watering. A thoroughbred thirst quencher! 

The nose gives up lots of fresh-ground black pepper on crushed tomatoes – a warm-vintage trait we've been loving in some of the 2022 Pinots. The palate is coursing with strawberry and orange peel and smokey herbs, then rose petal and cinnamon come in to further the spicy elegance. Sometimes lean, crisp reds can taste punishing without food, but a glass of this is satiating by itself – especially in summer and fall  – and ideal with a bubbly, crusty, mushroom pizza. 

Wine Spectator gave it 91 points, noting “light-bodied notes of blood orange, strawberry, savory and rooibos tea play out…taut and structured in feel.” Only five barrels were made, the fruit was organically farmed, and the alcohol is a light 12.5%. You will want at least six once you taste it, so cross that free shipping threshold without hesitation!