Belden Barns The Swan Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain 2021

Rare gems don't have to carry extravagant price tags.
This two-barrel production Pinot Noir from a magical Sonoma Mountain site ticks all the boxes of a posh palate experience while inviting you to enjoy it in substantial quantities. But, substantial becomes subjective pretty quickly when only 47 cases exist. Enter Belden Barns.

Having taken turns "wearing many hats", this turn-of-the-century property was once a stagecoach stop (that century) and rural retreat with a dance hall! Later, the land would profit by raising dairy cows and a prune orchard. In the early 1970s, pioneer grape grower David Steiner planted the first vines on the property to Cabernet Sauvignon, until an experienced grower suggested replanting the cooler site with a more cool-climate-friendly varietal that would thrive in this environment: Pinot Noir. Throughout the decades, this estate vineyard would become known for its top-quality fruit, attracting discerning and acclaimed wine producers who were honored to put their name on a bottle representing the elegant and seamless style Steiner Vineyard grapes possess.

Buying wine as a profession, we can tell at first whiff when a wine has promise, before even tasting it. I initially thought, "I hope this theme carries through on the palate."
To my utter satisfaction, after taking the first sip, I was smitten. Period.

From the heralded Steiner Vineyard, home of Belden Barns, comes this captivating, elegant, luxurious, hand-crafted Pinot Noir. Everything is in its place, from the delightful cherry and raspberry notes to the perfect expression of the earthy undertones. A wine for sharing or indulging on a solo mission to find that rare moment of peace ;-)