2017 Enkidu Sonoma County Pinot Noir

Enkidu takes its name from a character in the ancient Sumerian epic poem Gilgamesh. Enkidu was best friend to the hero Gilgamesh, and while the hero was out doing heroic deeds, Enkidu was tasked with stewardship of the land and animals. Winemaker Phil Staehle, owner and founder of Enkidu winery, notes that in the poem Enkidu becomes “more cultured and refined over time….in the same way a grape does as it journeys from the vine, through the vinification process, to a finished wine.” Staehle has been making wine in northern California since the 1980s. At Enkidu he focuses on Syrah, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The wines have won compliments and ratings in the 90s from reviewers, and Robert M. Parker Jr. has called them “elegant.”

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.