2018 Kahler Cellars Pinot Noir Los Carneros Napa Valley

In December of 2018, we paid a pre-holiday visit to one of our favorite down-south sommeliers at Nashville’s Park Café. While we debated over the menu, he poured us generous splashes of a clear, crimson red that quickly turned our appetizers vs. entrées debate into a blind tasting head-to-head. 

The wine was breathtaking—a sumptuous Pinot Noir bearing the cool-climate signature of its pedigreed Carneros origins (near Hyde Vineyards, we later learned), offering an irresistible and supple blend of dried cherry, strawberry, and cranberry layered with cinnamon and clove, kola nut, and leather. Tom, the sommelier, was obviously happy about our reaction. “What is THIS?!” we demanded when he returned to the table. 

“It’s hopefully our new by-the-glass Pinot Noir,” he said with a smirk. “We’ve always loved the wines from XXXXXXXX Estate and keep them on the bottle list, but we’re working on a special deal with their 2018.” After dinner that night, we found ourselves “stuck” at the bar, as our friend doled out hefty pours of his gorgeous, ruby-hued commission. We couldn’t get enough. 

You know what happens next. By this March, this destination eatery was confined to takeout sales and wine by the bottle. It was then that we got a call from our friend. “I need your help,” he said frankly. “We committed to that Carneros Pinot and we need to move it. You get what I mean?” 

We understood perfectly, and agreed immediately. It wasn’t a hard choice to make, even though we’re legally bound to secrecy on the exact source vineyard and winemaker who crafted this outstanding Pinot. The wine is stunning. 

Our friend put us in touch with Kahler Cellars—where the wine has been resting since bottling last fall—and they gave us a generous discount to make room in their cellar fast. Today we’re passing those savings right on to you (an incredible 60+% off!) making this exactly the kind of high-value insider offering we love to deliver at Wine Access. 

Despite today’s unique sub-$30 price tag, the Carneros origins of Kahler’s 2018 Pinot Noir are notably high end. Sourced from a revered cool-climate site a short walk from the legendary Hyde Vineyards, the 2018 was hand-harvested and crafted with the meticulousness that has earned this boutique Napa winery a devoted following. The result merits Kahler’s original $72 SRP and then some. Refined, racy, and juicy on the attack—yet still marvelously restrained—the palate is packed with red raspberry concentration, all buttressed by riveting Carneros acidity. 

In a time when we can’t saddle up to the bar at our favorite spots, this is undoubtedly the perfect wine to sip in the interim. Delivered with perfect provenance direct from Kahler’s cool cellars, tucked away behind Napa’s Highway 29, exclusively for Wine Access members, today only.

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

• ABV 14.50%
• 15 mins
• Drink Up
• % Pinot Noir
• Serving temperature – 58°
• Cork