2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

Gainey

Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills 2023

2023 Gainey Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

Every so often, vineyard and vintage fall into perfect rhythm. That’s exactly what happened for Gainey in 2023, when the cool, drawn-out growing season of the Santa Rita Hills gave their estate Pinot Noir the time it needed to develop exceptional aromatic detail and purity. The result was the revelation of our recent tasting: a wine that unfolded with understated confidence and left me wanting to revisit it the moment the glass was empty.

That vibrance is amplified by the diversity of clones planted across Gainey’s two estate ranches, each offering its own nuance of aroma and structure. Some bring lifted red fruit, others a darker, savory edge, and together they create a Pinot Noir whose layers reveal themselves gradually and with intention. This is fruit shaped by a landscape of varied soils and exposures, infused into a wine of uncommon balance.

All of this culminates in a Pinot Noir that speaks fluently of its origin—one of California’s most expressive cool-climate regions. The 2023 release doesn’t attempt to reinterpret Sta. Rita Hills; it embodies it, showing what’s possible when patience, precision, and pristine fruit converge. It’s a wine that reminds you why this appellation stands as one of the pinnacles of West Coast Pinot Noir.

Gainey
Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills 2023
Retails at: $35

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“The 2023 Gainey Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir delivers a pure, cool-climate expression of the appellation. The nose opens with vivid strawberry-rhubarb pie, fresh raspberries, warm baking spices, root beer, and a touch of sandalwood. On the palate, it is mid-bodied and energetic, showing bright, fresh strawberry fruit, mandarin peel, and black tea notes, carried by vibrant mouth-watering acidity and a distinct liquid-mineral character that drives the finish. Seamless, focused, and refreshingly energetic, this is a textbook Sta. Rita Hills Pinot that drinks beautifully now yet possesses the balance and structure to evolve gracefully over the next 5–7 years.”

94 points

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Three Sticks

Pinot Noir 2023
Price Family Estates
Sonoma Coast

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

Among the countless Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs, few capture the imagination like the 2023 Three Sticks Price Family Estates. The wine seamlessly weaves some of Sonoma Coast’s most distinguished voices, drawing from estate jewels such as Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala. Each vineyard contributes its character, culminating in a Pinot Noir that speaks eloquently.

Three Sticks has long been admired for crafting Pinot Noir of purity and grace, and the 2023 Price Family Estates bottling marks a thrilling new chapter. Guided by the foundation laid by Bob Cabral and carried forward by Ryan Prichard, it reflects not just winemaking skill but the seamless passing of a torch, ensuring continuity while unlocking new dimensions of expression.

 

The hallmark of the 2023 vintage is its ability to deliver depth without heaviness. Every detail of this wine reflects an estate committed to elevating Pinot Noir to its highest expression. Bright, aromatic, and texturally seamless, it delivers a complete expression of Sonoma’s coastal beauty, standing as a reminder that Pinot Noir, in the right hands, can be both delicate and profound. 

Three Sticks
Pinot Noir 2023
Price Family Estates
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $55

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“From one of the latest harvests in the Sonoma Coast history, development of flavor had an advantage and this wine is proof. This wine is a blend of the estate’s six vineyards including the Heritage Vineyards of the Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala. The wine is delicate and feathery, with clear cut acid structure that illuminates cherries, pomegranate, and orange peel. Its dimension is notable, a down pillow of creamy blueberry, hibiscus, and mint chocolate chip with a dash of black pepper on the finish.”

97 Points

2022 Aston Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2022 Aston Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaPinot NoirSonoma CoastUSA

Aston

Pinot Noir 
Sonoma Coast 2022

2022 Aston Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Perched on the remote ridgelines of Annapolis, where redwoods meet ocean fog, Aston Estate has long stood as one of the Sonoma Coast’s wild frontiers. Two decades after its founding, Aston Estate feels reborn. Once a collaboration between three of Napa’s most revered figures, it now thrives under the singular vision of Thomas Rivers Brown. His 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir channels the wisdom of maturity and the freshness of rediscovery. 

Drawn entirely from the estate’s 12-acre vineyard in the far western reaches of Sonoma, the 2022 vintage captures the essence of Annapolis itself: cool air, fractured soils, and relentless wind. Here, vines root deep into ancient marine sediment, yielding fruit of uncommon purity and tension. 

What emerges in 2022 is not merely a reflection of the site but of stewardship. Brown’s approach favors patience over intervention, allowing the wine to unfold in graceful precision. Each element from fruit, spice, and structure moves in balance, revealing a Pinot Noir that feels as timeless as the land it comes from. 

Aston
Pinot Noir 
Sonoma Coast 2022

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“A nearly opaque red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is flush with aromas of black cherries, a bit of plum, eucalyptus, sweet tobacco, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, it has more structure but is light on its feet for the vintage, with a ripe, sunny feel and a long finish. Drink 2026-2046.”

96 Points

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Synthesis

Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley

2023 Synthesis Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Born from Martin Ray’s estate vineyard along Laguna Road, the 2023 Synthesis Russian River Valley Pinot Noir captures the essence of its origin with striking clarity. The site sits in the heart of the valley’s cool corridor, where morning fog shapes firm but bright fruit. In the cellar, thoughtful intention takes the lead, resulting in a Pinot Noir that balances power and poise, each element reflecting the vineyard’s coastal charm.

The 2023 season unfolded slowly, each stage measured and guided. Yields were modest, canopies were managed for balance, and harvest came only when acidity and aromatics aligned perfectly. The result is a wine that feels sculpted and alive with detail, yet effortlessly composed.

Aged twelve months in French oak, the 2023 release finds its balance in texture and tone. On the palate, it’s silken yet vibrant. Fine-grained tannins guiding a line of vivid acidity through a finish that lingers with quiet confidence. This is Russian River Pinot Noir that’s expressive, graceful, and beautifully composed.

Synthesis
Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $50

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“A crisp and clean pinot with dried strawberries, cherries and hints of sandalwood on the nose. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a juicy finish. It has all you need. Drink or hold.”

94 Points

2023 Vaughn Duffy Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

2023 Vaughn Duffy Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaPetaluma GapPinot NoirUSA

Vaughn Duffy

Pinot Noir
Petaluma Gap 2023

2023 Vaughn Duffy Pinot Noir Petaluma Gap

Vaughn Duffy’s 2023 Pinot Noir captures the elemental drama of the Petaluma Gap, bringing its origins to life with clarity and focus. Produced from just six barrels, it’s an intimate, terroir-driven expression of one of California’s most distinctive coastal appellations, revealed through Matt Duffy’s singular focus on crafting Pinot Noir that speaks eloquently of its place. 

Here the Petaluma Gap’s daily wind and fog take center stage, slowing ripening and etching natural acidity into the fruit. The 2023 season ran cool and late, which allowed full flavor development at modest sugars. The result is a Pinot Noir that feels vivid and finely tuned, with energy that carries from first aroma to final sip. 

This wine’s brilliance lies in its balance: intensity without weight, elegance without fragility. After 10 months in French oak, the wine emerges with depth and polish, its supple tannins framing a core of crystalline fruit and savory complexity. It’s a testament to the power of place and the precision of thoughtful winemaking, bottled in its purest form.

Vaughn Duffy
Pinot Noir
Petaluma Gap 2023
Retails at: $55

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“Focused aromas of dusty cherry, cinnamon and sage waft from the glass on the nose of this Pinot. The palate delivers a bright pop of orange peel acidity, with flavors of crushed raspberry, black tea and cinnamon, with extremely supple tannin along the finish.”

94 Points

2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Patz & Hall

Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast 2021

2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Named one of Wine Spectator’s Top 100, the 2021 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a benchmark for what California Pinot can achieve when precision, heritage, and terroir converge. For more than three decades, Patz & Hall has earned a place at the table of collectors and sommeliers, crafting wines defined by their vibrant acidity, graceful structure, and seamless balance.

The secret to its depth lies in the mosaic of vineyards woven into the final blend. From the cool, wind-swept ridges near the Pacific to the fog-kissed valleys further inland, each of the sixteen individual sites contributes a distinct layer of character: vibrant red fruit from sandy soils, savory spice from clay-rich slopes, and a saline edge from marine-influenced pockets. 

Winemaker James Hall brings this raw potential to life with uncompromising attention to detail. Partial whole-cluster fermentations add aromatic complexity, while full malolactic fermentation in barrel lends texture and depth. The result is a Pinot Noir that shimmers with energy, and with a 96-point score from Decanter, this is a wine to be remembered, celebrated, and cellared.

Patz & Hall
Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast 2021
Retails at: $45

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“Delightful, extra juicy red and black fruits give graciously and generously with a mouth-filling texture and soft, silky tannins. The coolness of the Sonoma Coast takes the salty sea air and places it squarely on the grapes to give this wine a lovely saline finish. The great structural envelope will protect this wine for the future. It will last and last.”

96 Points

2023 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2023 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Kanzler

Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley

2023 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

When Alex Kanzler crafts his Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, it is less about winemaking and more about attentive listening. Each unique vineyard block from his family’s estate and four carefully chosen neighbors offers its own perspective: one whispers delicate perfume, another brings depth, a third imparts tension. His craft lies in weaving those voices into harmony, creating a wine that resonates with both intimacy and grandeur.

For years, the Kanzler vineyard has quietly underpinned the work of renowned producers like Kosta Browne and Rivers-Marie, but here, its fruit takes center stage. In 2023, the season’s clarity produced a Pinot Noir that is both generous and refined, a rare duality that reveals why celebrated winemakers return to these vines year after year.

To drink this wine is to recognize the artistry of restraint. Rather than chasing excess, Kanzler lets detail define the experience. The result is a Pinot Noir that is elegant yet powerful, detailed yet effortless, and unmistakably expressive of place. A wine that genuinely captures the heart and soul of the Russian River Valley. 

Kanzler
Pinot Noir 2023
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $69

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“This Pinot gives fresh cherry, orange pith and cola spice aromas on the nose, giving way to a palate with bright acid, plush tannin and flavors of cherry pie filling, cinnamon, clove and rose petals lingering along the finish.”

91 Points

2023 Salty Goats Pinot Noir Coastline Project Sonoma Coast

2023 Salty Goats Pinot Noir Coastline Project Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Salty Goats

Pinot Noir 2023
Coastline Project
Sonoma Coast

2023 Salty Goats Pinot Noir Coastline Project Sonoma Coast

Few wines wear their landscape as vividly as the 2023 Salty Goats “Coastline Project” Pinot Noir. Sourced from vineyards clinging to the far western ridges of Sonoma, where fog, ocean winds, and fractured Goldridge soils collide, this Pinot channels the raw drama of the Pacific into a wine of striking precision and sea-borne energy.

At the helm are Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, two winemakers whose experience at benchmark estates like Nickel & Nickel sharpened their ability to coax nuance from challenging terroirs. With Salty Goats, they channel their collective vision into a wine that feels both daring and deliberate, capturing Pinot Noir’s elegance while embracing the rugged unpredictability of the coast.

 

Built with the same patience and precision as the landscapes that shaped it, the 2023 vintage is seductive in its youth and carries the bones of a wine that will evolve gracefully over time. Its balance of fruit, minerality, and structure ensures that those with the patience to cellar it will be rewarded with layers of complexity that only coastal Pinots can achieve.

Salty Goats
Pinot Noir 2023
Coastline Project
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $60

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“The 2023 Salty Goats ‘Coastline Project’ Pinot Noir blends grapes from Fort Ross-Seaview (Red Car Estate), Lucky Well (Occidental), and Flochinni (Petaluma Gap). Native yeast fermented in a mix of open and closed-top bins, the wine spent 14 days on skins, underwent malolactic fermentation in a barrel, and includes 25% whole cluster. It was aged for 12 months in 20% new French oak, with no rackings, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Fantastically fresh and inviting, this Pinot Noir showcases salty, vibrant character with espresso bean nuances, loamy earth, and crunchy red cherry and spiced plum fruit. Excellent, velvety tannins support a medium-bodied palate with cola spices, kirsch, and blood orange acidity, accented by clove and allspice. Gorgeous rose petal floral notes emerge on the finish. One to seek out, this wine is the brainchild of partner winemakers Joe Harden and Phil Holbrook, who have been making wine together at Nickel & Nickel for nearly a decade. While passionate about Napa Cabernet, their after-hours preference for lighter wines like Pinot Noir inspired them to launch Salty Goats in 2020 as an outlet for experimenting with their favorite varieties.”

94 Points

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

Montagu

Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands

2023 Montagu Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Rooted in legend and tracing its lineage to Burgundy, Montagu’s 2023 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir captures a spirit that transcends the ordinary. The wine is crafted entirely from the storied La Tâche clone, a rare cutting believed to have originated from Burgundy’s legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Rich and evocative, this Pinot Noir exudes the deep, nuanced character of its noble lineage.

At the helm of this extraordinary wine is the gifted winemaker Weston Eidson, whose intuitive craftsmanship and meticulous vineyard selection have earned him a rising star status. For this rare 100-case offering, Eidson sourced grapes from a vineyard adjacent to one of the Santa Lucia Highlands’ most illustrious sites.

On the palate, the 2023 Montagu unfolds gracefully. Its seamless texture unfurls luscious layers of ripe cherry, nuanced by intriguing spices and hints of delicate florals. Polished tannins carry each sip toward a lingering finish, exemplifying the elegance that defines the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Montagu
Pinot Noir 2023
Santa Lucia Highlands
Retails at: $75

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“The Montagu Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2023 unfurls an enchanting bouquet, where ripe, sweet strawberries intertwine with the refined perfume of English roses. A zesty lift of mandarin peel cuts through, complemented by a subtle hint of nutmeg. On the palate, this wine unleashes waves of concentrated red plum and blood orange, its flavors concentrated and vivid, saturating the senses with intensity. Each sip builds to a finish that stretches long and persistent, leaving an indelible mark of satisfaction. Outright delicious, it embodies the Santa Lucia Highlands’ finest traits—vibrant fruit, structural finesse, and captivating depth. This is a Pinot Noir of exceptional poise and power.”

94 Points

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Three Sticks

Pinot Noir 2023
Price Family Estates
Sonoma Coast

2023 Three Sticks Pinot Noir Price Family Estates Sonoma Coast

Among the countless Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs, few capture the imagination like the 2023 Three Sticks Price Family Estates. The wine seamlessly weaves some of Sonoma Coast’s most distinguished voices, drawing from estate jewels such as Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala. Each vineyard contributes its character, culminating in a Pinot Noir that speaks eloquently.

Three Sticks has long been admired for crafting Pinot Noir of purity and grace, and the 2023 Price Family Estates bottling marks a thrilling new chapter. Guided by the foundation laid by Bob Cabral and carried forward by Ryan Prichard, it reflects not just winemaking skill but the seamless passing of a torch, ensuring continuity while unlocking new dimensions of expression.

 

The hallmark of the 2023 vintage is its ability to deliver depth without heaviness. Every detail of this wine reflects an estate committed to elevating Pinot Noir to its highest expression. Bright, aromatic, and texturally seamless, it delivers a complete expression of Sonoma’s coastal beauty, standing as a reminder that Pinot Noir, in the right hands, can be both delicate and profound. 

Three Sticks
Pinot Noir 2023
Price Family Estates
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $55

Your Price: $49.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

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“From one of the latest harvests in the Sonoma Coast history, development of flavor had an advantage and this wine is proof. This wine is a blend of the estate’s six vineyards including the Heritage Vineyards of the Durell, Gap’s Crown, and Walala. The wine is delicate and feathery, with clear cut acid structure that illuminates cherries, pomegranate, and orange peel. Its dimension is notable, a down pillow of creamy blueberry, hibiscus, and mint chocolate chip with a dash of black pepper on the finish.”

97 Points