Jess MillerPinot Noir “Mermaid Café” 2021 (750ml)

Four barrels that just spoke out from the mix of Hollow Oak Acres Pinot. This wine reminded Jess of something a little deeper than the rest of the fruit off this vineyard. Deep, serious and earthy-with an undercurrent of joy-this is more like a northern rhone from Dard & Ribo than anything I’ve ever encountered.

This wine is named for the Greek cafe where Joni Mitchell spent starry nights singing and recovering from her breakup with Graham Nash. After a brutal 2022 spring, the song “Carey” reminded Jess of the bone deep physical joy of farming, and this wine reminds us of it too.