It was a bold claim, but our Master Sommelier, Sur Lucero, was pretty confident when he put the 2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot on the tasting table.

And boy was he right.

Start with the expertise of a California icon: Michael Browneyep, of Kosta Brownenot only made the first three vintages of Ketcham, but he set up their entire winemaking program. Add in a small 13-acre patch of prime Russian River terroir thats supplied grapes for some of the best wineries in Sonoma, including Rochioli and Williams Selyem.

Finally, factor in vines that go back a full half-century and a vintage that will go down as one of the greatest ever in Sonoma. The result is a bottle that EVERYONE who loves California Pinot would kill to get their hands on.

But Wine Access is the only place other than the winery where you can find it, and weve got it at more than half off the winerys pricewhile these bottles last.

Those happened to be Joe Rochioli and Burt Williams, of Williams Selyem, along with Burts winemaker Bob Cabralnot a bad bunch to consult. They helped him replant the Chardonnay portion of the vineyard, and in return, Ketcham allowed them to buy fruit off his property.

One thing they were all adamant about: not touching the Pinot Noir vines. Planted in 1973, long before Pinot was the signature grape of the region, these half-century-old vines are some of the oldest in Russian River Valleyand the fruit they produce go into this bottle.

In 2018a fantastic vintage with nearly perfect conditions, according to Wine Spectatorthose gnarled beasts didnt have to work too hard. The resulting wine is a top-notch example of what makes Russian River Valley Pinot Noir so coveted, and our price makes the 2018 Ketcham Estate an easy case-buy.