2021 Phelan Farm (Rajat Parr) Autrement

Full bottle just 1,208 g – a miracle in California! Made by Raj Parr as an homage to Jura. 40% Gamay Noir, 30% Mondeuse, 30% Pinot Noir. From 2022 this wine will be labelled with the newly minted AVA San Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast), but that AVA was approved only after the labels for this 2021 were already printed! Transparent garnet. Curry spices on the nose – shall we drink this with our doggy bag from brunch today at Pahli Hill? It's certainly a very 'intentional' wine where it's easy to see what the winemaker had in mind, which is a very specific sort of light-bodied, frank, flattering, fresh strawberry-fruited wine that's quite difficult to find in California. The long finish is most impressive. I like the racy acidity than makes this a wine for drinking both with and without food, even if it's not the most serious, ambitious wine you'll ever encounter. Really sings on the end. (JR)