Review: Wines of Lula Cellars, 2020 Releases
Anderson Valley’s Lula Cellars has taken advantage of the current economic lull to refresh its labels, giving them a cleaner and more upscale look. If this lineup of four new releases is any guide, they’ve also use the time to double down on quality, with some dazzling wines filling out the lineup.
Thoughts follow.
2019 Lula Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Day Ranch Vineyard – Lush and fruity, this is a straightforward strawberries-and-cream wine that offers ample sweetness and a light citrus edge to cut through some of the berry and stone fruit notes. There’s less acidity here than in the 2017 expression we reviewed previously, plus a light hint of greenery on the finish — but it still features a solid balance that keeps things lively from start to finish. B+ / $26
2018 Lula Cellars Pinot Noir Anderson Valley – A bold chocolate character leads the way on Lula’s entry-level Anderson Valley pinot, which otherwise showcases a surprisingly dense experience that focuses more on currants and blackberries over the usual cherry-centric tones. The intensity is worthwhile, though, with notes of tobacco leaf and a balancing touch of balsamic on the back end. It’s a surprising pinot noir — but fairly on target for Lula’s house style for this wine. A- / $45
2018 Lula Cellars Pinot Noir Mendocino Peterson Vineyard – Brighter and quite fruity from the start, this single vineyard pinot bursts with cherry and some raspberry notes, eschewing the earthier density that you find in the Anderson Valley bottling. While rich in body, it’s balanced with a racy citrus element that gives the finish an ample acidity. Solid. A / $45
2018 Lula Cellars Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Lula Vineyard – A bit richer and more enveloping than the Peterson Vineyard bottling, this wine features more of a plum and black cherry note, with notes of cola and tea leaf emerging with time in glass. The finish has some of the chocolate notes present in the standard Anderson Valley bottling above, with a soft, gently acidic finish. A- / $50
2018 Lula Cellars Pinot Noir Mendocino Peterson Vineyard
$45
