Haden Fig, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Pack it up, go home, there’s nothing left to see here: When it comes to value-per-dollar, Haden Fig’s 2018 Willamette Valley is the year’s best Pinot Noir value, and I say this knowing full well that we have some exceptional Pinots still to come in the waning days of 2020. But as far as I’m concerned, this affordable superstar exists in a class—no, a world—all its own. The reasoning couldn’t be simpler: top terroir, top producer, $25 price tag. Every time I taste a handcrafted creation from Erin Nuccio, and I’ve had too many to count, its shocking level of crunchy detail, intricate purity, and understated finesse never ceases to amaze me. His Pinot Noirs aren’t just the epitome of value—they’re a fundamental cornerstone to understanding, savoring, and deeply appreciating the hallowed Willamette Valley. Truly, each new release from Nuccio further strengthens (1) the superiority of this increasingly legendary terroir and (2) our claim that these Pinots are impossible-to-beat values. Why