The name tells the whole story. Every morning, thick fog rolls in from Monterey Bay through the Arroyo Seco appellation, blanketing the vineyards and keeping temperatures cool long into the day. It is this fog — and the cold Pacific winds that follow it — that makes the Arroyo Seco one of California’s finest cool-climate wine regions, and the perfect home for Pinot Noir. J. Lohr’s Fog’s Reach is their finest expression of the grape from this exceptional site — a Pinot Noir of real elegance and precision that could not come from anywhere else. The nose is lovely and fragrant, with fresh cherry, strawberry, and a beguiling hint of strawberry candy, lifted by notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and black tea that add a lovely spicy complexity. On the palate it’s bright and silky, with creamy, open-knit tannins, a beautiful natural freshness, and a long, pomegranate-infused finish that lingers with real finesse. California Pinot Noir at its most elegant — and a world away from the richer, more opulent styles of warmer regions. At £44.99, it is outstanding value for a Pinot of this quality and character.