Joseph Jewell, “Phelps Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Most people associate California’s Humboldt County with an agricultural commodity that is much more lucrative than wine grapes. And there are, in fact, only about 150 acres of vines planted in all of Humboldt, a region that spans 4,000 square miles. We’ve had the pleasure of walking some of these rare vineyards, including the source vineyard for this wine, and all we can say is, look out. Humboldt has all the natural gifts of some of California’s most celebrated coastal growing zones, and if this wine had “Sonoma Coast” instead of “Humboldt County” on its label it would cost a lot more. Right now, wines like this are tiny-production rarities, but we’re left wondering if Humboldt may be the next frontier for great California Pinot Noir. This 2019 makes a very strong case! Here’s how the Joseph Jewell team describes it: “Humboldt County sits at the southern edge of the Pacific Northwest, with substantial winter rainfall. The growing season is shorter than in Sonoma or Napa, and bud brea