Sonoma County, California is home to some of the best wine in the world. With its rolling hills and lush vineyards, wine critics and lovers of fine wine alike say single vineyard wines made by the region’s smaller, family-owned wineries rival anything made in France.
Patz and Hall winery is a prime example. Family owned, Founder and Owner James Hall has made world-renowned single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that has set a new standard for excellence.
James Hall purchased Patz and Hall winery back from its corporate owners back in March of 2024, reversing a trend of large corporations gobbling up smaller, family-owned wineries. Critically acclaimed as a Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist, Patz and Hall rely on deep relationships with some of the most celebrated growers in Sonoma County to source grapes for its distinctive wines.
Patz and Hall Chenoweth Ranch 2021 Pinot Noir ($75) is a shining example. Made from a vineyard site farmed exclusively for Patz and Hall, the wine is crafted from grapes grown on a knoll overlooking the homestead of highly respected vineyard manager Charlie Chenoweth.
Planted to Pinot Noir in 2000 to the exact specifications of Patz and Hall, the Chenoweth family first established their homestead estate in Sonoma County in the 1800s. Perfectly situated in Green Valley, the vineyard is one of the most important sites in the Patz and Hall portfolio. Single vineyard Pinot Noir from Chenoweth Ranch is one of the outstanding! wines of the Russian River Valley.
Rich with dark and concentrated flavors of ripe plums, dried cherries and hints of licorice, the wine is an elegant statement of the winemaker’s art. Aging in Burgundian French Oak barrels, 40% which are new and 60% that are 1-2 years old, gives it added depth. Bottled without filtration to preserve its aromas and flavors and enhance its aging potential, the wine is Vegan.
Hints of baking spices give it warmth and a mouth filling sensation. All this richness is enveloped in hints of cedar and supple tannins that give the wine a long and satisfying finish.
This is a wine to savor with your favorite meal. A Porterhouse or Thick Rib Eye Steak Blackened on the Grill or a Slow-Cooked Roast are perfect main courses with this superb wine. Roast Chicken or Duck with some Rosemary and Green Apples stuffed in the cavity with a side of roasted new potatoes and assorted squash welcome the fall season. Save some of the wine for Grandma’s Apple Pie, complete with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and cloves. The spices really bring out the versatile character of this exceptional wine. For more, visit patzhall.com.
