2015 Halcon Vineyards Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard Anderson Valley

If You Don’t Know Halcón Pinot, You Should.

Halcón Vineyards is one of those tiny, word-of-mouth producers that Northern California sommeliers and wine buyers hold back for themselves (yes, we’ve been guilty too).

Heralded by the few critics who’ve tasted it—romantically christened the “lonely Mendocino outpost yielding wines of uncommon authority” according to the Sacramento Bee’s legendary critic Mike Dunne—we’ve been quiet fans ever since we climbed our way up to visit Halcón’s gorgeous vineyard in the sky. But after tasting the 2015 Halcón Pinot Noir from Wentzel Vineyard, we’re ready to shout from that very mountain.  

For such an elegant Pinot Noir, this wine boasts enough volume and sunshine to live up to the idyllic Anderson Valley landscape that gave rise to it. It’s criminally underpriced at its regular SRP of $42, but we secured just enough to share—only 120 cases were made—and at just shy of $30, and under $20 (over half off) on cases!  

Almost humming with tension the minute it hits the glass, layer upon layer of raspberry, peppered rhubarb, earthy cherry, and savory Herbes de Provence draw you in with urgency. But it’s the sophisticated structure that keeps you coming back, surprising for its impressive density and power. Pinot can have this effect, but almost never at this price.

That’s exactly what Paul and Jackie Gordon were going for when they established Halcón in 2004 after falling in love with Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. As natives of England, the husband and wife duo wanted to seize the fruitiness for which California is recognized, but deliver it with the precision and minerality more closely associated with Europe. “We want them to be California wines, but France is our model,” Paul says.

Which is why the Gordons knew they had to source from Wentzel Vineyard. Tucked away 600 feet above the Anderson Valley floor, Wentzel is an organic haven that’s surrounded by forest and dotted with lush vegetable and herb gardens, fruit trees, sheep, ducks, and chickens—all meticulously tended to by the Wentzel family, who mostly live off their land. Their obsession with Dijon clones have made their vineyard among the most well-regarded for Pinot Noir in California, which is why legends like Copain and Littorai have sourced Wentzel fruit for years (charging far more for the end result!). 

This is when it pays to be a Wine Access member. Halcón is a name to get behind early, before word gets out to the masses. It’s such a miniscule production, but critics have started to take notice. Wine Advocate alum Jeb Dunnuck recently said, “I’ve always been a fan of the wines from Paul Gordon’s Halcon label, and if you like cool-climate wines that have depth, texture and balance, you’re going to love these latest releases.”

We already had to limit our internal office allocation to ensure there is enough Halcón to go around. But don’t take our word for it—at this price, your next case of Pinot can do all the talking.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 12.80%
• Enjoy right away
• Now – 2026
• % Pinot Noir
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork