Bradley N.
Yelp
Honestly, Lula: you had me at Guntly. I admit, it is a weird word, but here at Lula Cellars "Guntly" is spoken with reverence. It is a nonvintage blend of Mendocino County Zinfandel and Pinot Noir, with a smoky, earthy core that practically begs to be served alongside grilled meat of some sort, like pork, bison, or beef. Food friendly and slurpable at the same time. It's like the best of both worlds.
One precious acre of Gewürztraminer is also used to make around 90 cases of crisp, floral, and flavorful white wine. And when it comes to gold-medal winning Mendocino County wine, the Costa and Peterson Vineyard Pinot Noirs here are drop dead gorgeous. You will want to make love to these wines and Yelp into the stratosphere like a wolf howling at the full moon. Dogs are very much loved here at Lula, so if you've got one, bring a canine companion as +1 when you taste. $10 fee for 6 wines, waived with purchase. Two flight options, all reds or mixed. Unless you are a total Pinot Noir geek, go with the mixed flight if this is a first visit.
Note: 2016 vintage and older were crafted by Lula's original winemaker, a true Anderson Valley character whose wines are rich and rewarding, especially those sourced from small, dry-farmed vineyards in the nearby town of Comptche, just North of Anderson Valley, with even cooler, foggier mornings that allow for longer hang times on the vine and later harvests in October, which allow the Pinot Noir grapes to bubble over with alluring aromatics reminiscent of black cherry, rose petal, foraged mushroom, and wild plum. Since 2017, a New Zealand winemaker who splits his time between the Southern hemisphere and Anderson Valley has been in charge, and his wines are different. Delicious, but different. If you come now, you can taste wines made by both winemakers. Why are you waiting? Come here now! Anderson Valley is rarely as happy a place as at Lula. The dogs know! And so should you.