2015 Angela Abbott Clark Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 Angela Abbott Claim Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

ANGELA  2015 Angela Abbott Clark Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
ABBOTT CLAIM VINEYARD

 
When a winemaker works closely with the same vineyard for more than a decade, and has the ability to farm it however they want, the best will guide the grapes into producing truly world-class fruit.  A perfect example is the Abbott Claim Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton, which Iconic Oregon winemaker Ken Wright purchased in the late 1990’s and planted to Pinot Noir in 2001.  Ken’s first Pinot Noir bearing the Abbott Claim moniker was in 2004 and by the 2012 vintage, it ranked #1 in the World on the Wine Enthusiast Top 100. As a winemaker, he has more accolades that we can list, and he was also the founding winemaker at Domaine Serene.  He was also the first Oregon winemaker to be featured on the cover of the Wine Spectator where he was named a Master of Oregon pinot Noir.
 
In 2017 the Beck Family who own Angela Winery purchased the vineyard from Wright, and they hired Ken as their winemaker.  They have Mark Gould who originally planted the vineyard, managing it now and the results simply need to be tasted.  If you’d like to try a Ken Wright made single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Abbott Claim at a price that’s too good to pass up, here’s your chance.
 
ANGELA
2015 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
ABBOTT CLAIM VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 

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From James Suckling: “This has a sense of complexity and some restrained and composed fruit. Aromas of strawberries and ripe cherries lead to a juicy and serene palate with attractively fleshy presence at the finish. Very silky. Drink or hold.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Angela Abbott Claim Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning Pinots…
2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016 Alexana Terroir Series Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
TROMBETTA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a juicy exploration of the coast-a well-made effort that showcases notes of forest floor, black tea and savory pine. The black cherry and currant fruit leans dark and brooding, with an impressively balanced, medium-bodied hold on the palate.”  90 Points
ALEXANA
2016 PINOT NOIR
TERROIR SERIES
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
 
Your Price: $36/btl

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From The Wine Spectator: “Precise and harmonious, offering layered raspberry and cherry flavors laced with smoky anise and spice notes, building richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2025.” 94 Points, Highly Recommended

2017 Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 
Black Pine is one of the best values we’ve discovered in Pinot Noir over the years, and none have surpassed it in numbers of cases shipped and sheer popularity.  There’s one simple reason why… The quality of what you get inside the bottle far exceeds what most would think possible at this modest price.  It delivers outstanding weight, balance and a stunning presence on the palate, then opens up to a tapestry of vivid dark berries, candied plum, caramelized cherries, dried rose and hints of clove.  If you’ve enjoyed  any of their earlier vintages, you already know what to expect… If you haven’t experienced Black Pine Pinot Noir, I absolutely guarantee you’ll love it once you do.
 
Conceived from carefully chosen vineyards located in the Petaluma Gap, Russian River and Sonoma Coast, the 2017 Black Pine has a lush mouthfeel, terrific intensity and balance.  Aged for 10 months in French oak, and a true model of Pinot Noir from California’s Sonoma Coast, the 2017 continues to gracefully evolve in the bottle and drinking better than ever right now.  I strongly recommend a case before the 2017 runs out.
 
BLACK PINE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $30/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
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Winery Notes: “The wine shows appealing aromas of Bing cherry mixed with vanilla and baking spice. The deep ruby and purple wine reveals candied red plum that lingers in the glass…. sensuous and mouth filling and shows black cherry and strawberry flavors. Medium bodied flavors of perfumed Cherry, lush red fruit and clove give way to the bright natural acidity and fine tannins that draw out a long and impressive finish.“
 
“Ripe berry nose; smooth texture with tangy black cherry. Rich and generous with intensity and finesse.”   91 Points, Anthony Dias Blue
 
Customers that enjoy Black Pine Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2017 Alma De Cattleya Sonoma County Pinot Noir
2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
ALMA de CATTLEYA
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $27.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:  “Pale ruby purple in color, the 2017 Pinot Noir opens with Bing cherries, tart cranberry, blackberry, violet and tobacco leaf aromas with tangerine peel nuance. Light to medium-bodied, it’s fresh and soft in the mouth with crunchy red fruits and citrus accents, framed by soft, grainy tannins and juicy freshness to lift the finish…“ 90 Points
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $40/btl
 

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From PinotFile: “Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Terrific nose offering aromas of vivid cherry, raspberry, spice and subtle toast. Thoroughly satisfying in a mid weight style featuring flavors of black cherry, blackberry and spice with a deft touch of oak in the background. Notable mid palate and finishing intensity, with gracious tannins. A charming AVA wine.“ 92 Points
2017 Alma De Cattleya Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2017 Alma de Cattleya Sonoma County Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underPinot NoirSonoma CoastUSA

ALMA de CATTLEYA 2017 Alma De Cattleya Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY

 
The “Are you kidding me?” moments regarding value pricing of fine wines are getting harder and harder to find.  Wine prices escalate each year, but Alma de Cattleya seems to be suspended in a perfectly insulated time capsule.  This beauty was expertly created by Columbia born, French trained winemaker  Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, whom many of you may recognize as the winemaker for Pahlmeyer… She’s previously made wines at Lynmar and has extensive experience making wine in France as well.  Her new Alma de Cattleya and Cattleya labels are rapidly increasing in popularity with each cork pulled and are setting the bar for what can be achieved at each respective price level.
 
A blend of several methodically selected vineyard blocks centered around the Sonoma Coast AVA and focused primarily around sites positioned very close to the Pacific Ocean, this gorgeous interpretation of cool-climate, classic Sonoma Coast Pinot was authored using the same exacting standards as the Cattleya single vineyard wines which retail for around $70/btl and garner enormous scores.  Remarkably plump and velvety on the palate, this stunning Pinot covers your taste buds in ripe, penetrating fruit, layered in wild rose and violets.  I strongly recommend a case or two, because a Pinot this good, at this price, certainly won’t be available for long. And no, I’m not kidding…
 
ALMA de CATTLEYA
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $27.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale ruby purple in color, the 2017 Pinot Noir opens with Bing cherries, tart cranberry, blackberry, violet and tobacco leaf aromas with tangerine peel nuance. Light to medium-bodied, it’s fresh and soft in the mouth with crunchy red fruits and citrus accents, framed by soft, grainy tannins and juicy freshness to lift the finish…” 90 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Alma de Cattleya Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2017 Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
BLACK PINE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $30/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl

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Winery Notes: “The wine shows appealing aromas of Bing cherry mixed with vanilla and baking spice. The deep ruby and purple wine reveals candied red plum that lingers in the glass…. sensuous and mouth filling and shows black cherry and strawberry flavors. Medium bodied flavors of perfumed Cherry, lush red fruit and clove give way to the bright natural acidity and fine tannins that draw out a long and impressive finish.”
JOSEPH JEWELL
2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $40/btl
 

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From PinotFile: “Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Terrific nose offering aromas of vivid cherry, raspberry, spice and subtle toast. Thoroughly satisfying in a mid weight style featuring flavors of black cherry, blackberry and spice with a deft touch of oak in the background. Notable mid palate and finishing intensity, with gracious tannins. A charming AVA wine.” 92 Points

2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50Fort Ross SeaviewKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

FLOWERS

2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 

Flowers is a winery that helped shape Pinot Noir production along the extreme Sonoma Coast through style, consistency and quality.  They began their journey nearly 30 years ago and they helped pioneer the plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in what’s now known as the Fort Ross Seaview AVA.  In 2011, it was approved as its own Appellation within the Sonoma Coast region.  The area is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli Martinelli, Fort Ross and Pahlmeyer, to list a few.  The 2017 is wonderfully energetic and blooms with intense raspberry, wild strawberries, lavender and baking spices.  At under fifty bucks, I highly recommend harvesting some for your cellar.

With attention to every detail, Flowers hand-sorts their fruit on their custom-built shaker table before gently dispersing the berries onto the next sorting table where six sorters assess every cluster before allowing only the best fruit to pass through into the fermenters.  Blossoming after 10 months in oak, this Pinot is indescribably beautiful now and will continue to bear gorgeous fruit for the next decade…

 
FLOWERS
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast gives up intense scents of kirsch, violets, rose hip tea and chocolate-covered cherries with touches of garrigue and dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied with delicate floral and red fruit layers in the mouth, it has wonderfully satiny tannins and a long, lively finish.”  90 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Flowers Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016 Castalia Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
TROMBETTA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a juicy exploration of the coast-a well-made effort that showcases notes of forest floor, black tea and savory pine. The black cherry and currant fruit leans dark and brooding, with an impressively balanced, medium-bodied hold on the palate.”  90 Points
CASTALIA
2016 PINOT NOIR
ROCHIOLI VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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Arising from one of California’s Grand Cru Vineyards, this Pinot Noir is so enchanting, that it will literally speak to your soul.  A penetrating ruby/purple in the glass, the 2016 is beautifully layered with baked raspberries, warm cranberries, back cherry, roses, shaved chocolates and was carefully guided from grape to bottle by Terry Bering, Cellar Master for Rochioli Vineyards for over two decades…
2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

DANIEL 2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD

 
It’s rare for us to taste a wine and immediately lock-down every bottle available before our wine glasses are emptied… We’ve done that more times with DANIEL Pinots than with any other brand.  When you can count the number of barrels produced on two fingers and you add to it a style that’s as commanding as it is compelling, and as balanced as it is deep and enchanting, we simply can’t let these go. Wines this great, never stay under-the-radar for very long and the DANIEL brand has been getting a lot of attention.  The Wine Enthusiast wrote, “This is a tiny production wine well worth seeking” and I most certainly agree… Just don’t wait too long to secure yours, because with just 50 cases produced and 33% off, this one will go fast.
 
Daniel Winery has a talent for finding unique sites that are capable of producing profound fruit with compelling flavors and firm structure.  This one was brought to life from the organically farmed Laguna Vineyard and created from heritage Pinot Noir clones, Calera, Eden and Martini.  With a deep core and satin texture, this Pinot opens up with intense plum, and vivid red and black fruits laced with wild flowers, tea leaves hints of baking spices.   With a total production of 2 barrels, this Pinot Noir will only go to a lucky few.
 
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Wine Enthusiast, “This is a tiny production wine well worth seeking, savory in forest floor, black tea, sage and mushroom, with a soft, round mid-palate that presents as equal parts silky and velvety. Exotic and earthy, it has integrated barrel presence and tamed tannins, with a succulent finish of baking spice.” 93 Points  
 
Customers that enjoy Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2015 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
MATIAS
2015 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 

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From Wine Enthusiast, “Rose petals, cranberry and dust show on the nose of this bottling, which grows more intense on the nose as it sits open, offering riper fruit. Dried sagebrush and baked earth flavors show on the sip as the red fruit and floral components arise with grace.” 93 Points
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From Wine Enthusiast, “Oodles of black cherry and sour cherry fill the aroma and flood the flavors of this full-bodied, concentrated and deeply fruity wine. The ripeness is balanced by good fruit acidity, making the wine both seductive and refreshing to sip. Made from Ferrington Vineyard and the old-vine Beaujolais Vineyard, it has the structure to age and improve...”  96 Points, Cellar Selection
2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

TROMBETTA

2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
In the 3 years since we opened our tasting room in Yountville, if we had to select one wine that’s generated the most enthusiastic comments out of all of the wines that we’ve poured by the glass, Trombetta Pinot Noir wins by a landslide. We literally smile and watch as even our most discerning customers drop their jaws when they try this wine for the first time. We can’t wait to start showing the newly released 2015 vintage, which is finely detailed with remarkable weight and a generous presence on the palate.  The 2015 shows off in layers of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, dried violets, and dark chocolates.  This brilliant interpretation of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is simply one of my favorite Pinots that I’ve tasted over the last few years and at under fifty bucks it truly should not be missed.
 
Emerging from the Petersen vineyard, located in the revered Petaluma Gap AVA, this brilliant example of Sonoma Coast Pinot was authored by Erica Stancliff who honed her skills while interning at Rudd and Vina Cobos…  Aged for 10 months in Damy, Francios Freres, Radoux, and Cadus French oak barrels, if you’re searching for love in Pinot Noir… This just might be it.  It is for me…
 
TROMBETTA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a juicy exploration of the coast-a well-made effort that showcases notes of forest floor, black tea and savory pine. The black cherry and currant fruit leans dark and brooding, with an impressively balanced, medium-bodied hold on the palate.” 90 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Trombetta’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding Pinots…
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch 2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl

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I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch PinotNoir. Made in a deep, velvety style that I love, Laird’s 2016  Ghost Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, black cherries, vanilla and spices.
MARTINELLI
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Wine Enthusiast, “This is a robust, generous and meaty red wine. On the palate, smoke and toasted oak tones support warm baking spice, black cherry and an undeniable earthiness of cardamom and forest floor.”  91 Points
2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUncategorizedUSA

MARTINELLI2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 
Some of the greatest values in Pinot Noir result from top producers blending their single vineyard wines into a Cuvée of multiple vineyards.   This makes perfect sense too, because a top attribute in Pinot Noir is that it’s one of the most complex varietals in both flavor and aroma, and multiple vineyards can often emphasize that… Martinelli’s 2015 Sonoma Coast Pinot is a wonderful example that combines fruit from Blue Slide Ridge and Three Sister’s Vineyards. At around 1/2 the price of those single vineyard bottlings, the Sonoma Coast embodies the winery’s signature style, which has made them one of the Russian River Valley’s most beloved producers.  At under $40, the level of quality/value is obvious the moment this wine splashes into your glass, as the bouquet grabs you and doesn’t let go.
 
Created in a robust, larger-than-life style, the 2015 also embodies a natural elegance that makes it absolutely irresistible.  The 2015 was created with the help of consulting winemaker Erin Green, who worked alongside Helen Turley in the early 1990’s on some of her projects, and to this day, the winery remains a paragon in the Russian River Valley.  If you love BIG, rich, California Pinot Noirs, you’ll want to secure a case of this one, yesterday.
 
MARTINELLI
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
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From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a robust, generous and meaty red wine. On the palate, smoke and toasted oak tones support warm baking spice, black cherry and an undeniable earthiness of cardamom and forest floor.“ 91 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Martinelli’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding Pinots…
2013 Fort Ross FRV Pinot Noir 2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Jeb Dunnuck: “The  2013 Pinot Noir FRV Fort Ross  Vineyard sports a ruby color as well as an open knit, ready-to-go bouquet of dried cherries, tobacco, menthol, and dried herbs. It’s pretty, medium-bodied, rounded, and supple, with an evolved style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.” 90 Points
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl

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I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch PinotNoir. Made in a deep, velvety style that I love, Laird’s 2016  Ghost Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, black cherries, vanilla and spices.
2015 Mt Beautiful 10 Barrels New Zealand Pinot Noir

2015 Mt Beautiful 10 Barrels New Zealand Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNew ZealandPinot NoirUncategorized

MT. BEAUTIFUL 2015 Mt Beautiful 10 Barrels New Zealand Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
10 BARRELS
NEW ZEALAND

 
For many of the same reasons New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is so revered, their Pinot Noirs are gaining more momentum every year…  Their Sauvignon Blancs have bright acidity and laser like clarity, which you will also find in their Pinot Noirs. The New World styled fruit, wild complexity, and superb focus makes Mt. Beautiful’s 2015 10 Barrels Pinot Noir one of the best that I’ve tasted in years.  2015 marks the inaugural release of their 10 Barrels Pinot, and with a mere 229 cases produced, there is very little of this available in the US…  Our panel was floored by the vivid detail, spiraling depth and intriguing meaty undertones of this special cuvée.  At under forty dollars, the quality is truly palpable.
 
In New Zealand, Pinot Noir reigns supreme and is their most widely planted varietal ahead of Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.  The area’s cool climate and complex soils produce charming Pinots with seductive fruit, profound complexity and intense aromas.  The Wine Spectator describes the 2015 vintage in New Zealand as producing “excellent quality and concentration.”  If you haven’t experienced a Pinot Noir from a top New Zealand producer, here’s a chance to try one of the best…
 
MT. BEAUTIFUL
2015 PINOT NOIR
10 BARREL SELECT
NEW ZEALAND
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Our first ever Barrel Select Pinot Noir begins with sophisticated floral fragrances of violets and blackberries, underpinned by subtle power and savory bacon-like aromas. On the palate this elegant wine reveals a veiled depth of intense bramble-like fruit, earthiness and subtle chalky tannins that run right through the mouth. The wine finishes with an echo of that toasty crisp bacon fat, and with a clarity of fruit and good persistent flavor.“
 
Customers that enjoy Mt. Beautiful 10 Barrel Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2015 Cloudy Bay New Zealand Pinot Noir
SONNET
2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “The 2016 vintage pinot noir shows an array of cherry fruit, red berries, nutmeg, and that recognizable Santa Lucia Highlands AVA spiciness, that resembles dried herbs, potpourri and briar patch. The palate is soft and plush with balanced acidity and moderate tannin.”
CLOUDY BAY
2015 PINOT NOIR
NEW ZEALAND
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot  Noir has pretty violet, red cherry and warm raspberry scents with a hint of cinnamon and dusty earth. Soft, elegant and medium-bodied, it gives lovely purity and a more understated expression.” 90 Points
2017 Loring Kessler-Haak Vineyard Pinot Noir

2017 Loring Kessler-Haak Vineyard Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUncategorizedUSA

LORING 2017 Loring Kessler-Haak Vineyard Pinot Noir

2017 PINOT NOIR
KESSLER-HAAK VINEYARD
SANTA RITA HILLS

 
If you’ve ever wondered whether a winemaker’s passion for their artistry could manifest itself directly into the flavors and personality of the wine they produce, just take one sip of ANY of Brian Loring’s Pinot Noirs and you’ll know… His passion for the Pinot Noir grape began in Burgundy and was later propelled by the wines of Josh Jensen (Calera), and from there reached Williams Selyem, Chalone, Sanford and Cottonwood Canyon.  The level of passion that he has for the varietal adds another dimension to his winemaking which is absolutely on-point.  His Pinot Noirs are revered for their ability to express terroir and for their uncanny levels of balance and charisma.  At this price, they should not be missed.
 
We often note that vineyard owners have a clear advantage when it comes to selecting grapes for their own wines and knowing when to pick… They know their land like nobody else, and Brian recognized that and sought out some of California’s best Pinot Noir vineyards, then instructed the owners of each vineyard to treat the Loring blocks exactly the same way as they treat the blocks for the wines they produce for themselves.  A perfect example is his single vineyard Pinot from Kessler-Haak Vineyard, which expresses in vivid detail the remarkable complexity and deep, saturating flavors that this vineyard is able to produce and was the highlight of our tasting…
 
LORING
2017 PINOT NOIR
KESSLER-HAAK VINEYARD
SANTA RITA HILLS
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 

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From PinotFile: “Dark garnet color in the glass. Brooding aromas of fertile earth and wine cave. A charge of boisterous black raspberry and blackberry fruit greets the palate, fills every nook and cranny in the mouth, and exits with aplomb. Velvety in texture with noticeable, but not intrusive tannins.”  92 Points

 

2017 Loring Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 Loring Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
LORING
2017 PINOT NOIR
CLOS PEPE VINEYARD
SANTA RITA HILLS
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
 
From PinotFile: “Moderate garnet color in the glass. Uplifting aromas of black cherry and spice rub lead to a mid weight plus styled wine with a generous core of delicious black cherry and purple berry fruit. Supple tannins provide marvelous support and the energetic acidity adds vigor. A compelling wine with an extremely long finish.”  94 Points
LORING
2017 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
 
From PinotFile: “... Grand aromas of purple grape, boysenberry and sandalwood. My first word after taking a sip was Wow! An ephemeral wine with flat-out delicious, well-spiced, dark red cherry fruit that really captures the palate with goodness. Wondrous harmony with endless aromatic pleasure on the finish. Praise the Lord! Gary Franscioni really knows how to raise wine grapes!”  95 Points
2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 Sonnet Tondre’s Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsSonomaUSA

SONNET 2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

 
Looking back at the most loved Pinot Noirs I’ve featured over the years, there’s one from the Santa Lucia Highlands that rises above the rest.  Sonnet’s Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir comes from an incredible site that neighbors the iconic Garys’ Vineyard.  And it’s appropriately named, with a perfume so muse-worthy that it makes it easy to wax poetic about.  One twirl of the glass unleashes a burst of red cherries woven throughout with wild rose petals, fresh violets and spices.  On the palate the wine is plush and satiny with perfect balance, and after tasting the 2016, you’ll want to get yours before the reviews… Trust me on this one.  
 
Santa Lucia Highlands is well-known for producing Pinot Noirs with great depth, often showing cherry-berry pie and exotic spices.  The topography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean allows for a long hang time, and in many areas, the fruit is able to reach optimum maturity, resulting in profound flavors.  This could be the poster-child for classic Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot and at $40/btl it’s absolutely one of the best in the shop.   I highly recommend picking up a case, while supplies last… you can (and will) thank me later. 
 
SONNET
2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
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Winery Notes: “The 2016 vintage pinot noir shows an array of cherry fruit, red berries, nutmeg, and that recognizable Santa Lucia Highlands AVA spiciness, that resembles dried herbs, potpourri and briar patch. The palate is soft and plush with balanced acidity and moderate tannin.”
 
Customers that enjoy Sonnet Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2013 Fort Ross FRV Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “The  2013 Pinot Noir FRV Fort Ross  Vineyard sports a ruby color as well as an open knit, ready-to-go bouquet of dried cherries, tobacco, menthol, and dried herbs. It’s pretty, medium-bodied, rounded, and supple, with an evolved style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.” 90 Points
MATIAS 
2015 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “Rose petals, cranberry and dust show on the nose of this bottling, which grows more intense on the nose as it sits open, offering riper fruit. Dried sagebrush and baked earth flavors show on the sip as the red fruit and floral components arise with grace.”  93 Points