2014 Dolin Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underPinot NoirSanta Maria ValleyUSA

DOLIN 

2014 PINOT NOIR
BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD 
SANTA MARIA VALLEY

Bien Nacido is one of the most distinguished vineyards in California’s Central Coast as well as one of the oldest, and was planted in the 1970s. When I come across a Bien Nacido Pinot on a restaurant wine list, I’m always eager to taste it. Their fruit attracts some of the top players in Pinot Noir to make a wine, including Foxen, Gary Farrell, and Calera, to name a few. Dolin’s version at under fifty will make many friends, but at $25, few others can play the game…
 
Bien Nacido, located in the Santa Maria Valley, is distinguished for having a strong maritime influence that’s caused by its geographical funnel shape, which opens up to the Pacific Ocean. 
 
The vineyard’s rock-laden soils are a crucial component in its unique terroir that manifests in the distinctive flavors. On the palate, the 2014 is rich, supple, and pure, and features defined red and black cherries, earth, and attractive savory accents. 
 
DOLIN 
2014 PINOT NOIR
BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD 
SANTA MARIA VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
 
“Aromas of kirsch, new leather and dried red-plum show on the nose of this bottling, which has plenty of bottle age to reach secondary aromas. The palate is showing a touch of age, with dried strawberry and red-plum flavors alongside sumac spice.” 91 Points
2015 Cherry Pie Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir

2015 Cherry Pie Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

CHERRY PIE

2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH

2015 Cherry Pie Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir
After dominating one varietal for more than a decade, the natural progression is to begin a new challenge and conquer that too. Jayson Woodbridge did just that. His Hundred Acre Cabernets reign as one of the top Cult wines in Napa for over a decade, and choosing Pinot Noir as a challenge, he sourced from the iconic Stanly Ranch Vineyard in Carneros. The 2015 vintage is loaded with concentrated cherry fruit, wild rhubarb, and subtle spice, and with a 95 Point Score from Tasting Panel Magazine, now is the perfect time to try it.  
 
Judge Stanly planted the original Stanly Ranch Vineyard in the 1800s, but since being replanted in 2001, it’s been a source for COHO, Saintsbury, and others. The well-drained Haire-loam soils, rolling hills, and coastal influences are ideal for ripening Pinot Noir to the pinnacle of perfection. 
 
Cherry Pie made the 2015 vintage in a dense style, layered with seductive red fruits, intriguing spices, and subtle floral notes. Each small-block was micro-lot fermented to isolate the individual flavors and aromas, and the wine is aged sur lie for the entire process, which contributes to the depth of flavor. 
 
CHERRY PIE
2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $45
 
“Stanly Ranch, the easternmost vineyard on the Napa Valley side of Carneros, has proven itself as ideal ground for Pinot Noir for more than 70 years, thanks to its well-drained clayloam soils, gentle slopes, and cool San Pablo Bay breezes.This French oak-aged red offers cinnamon- and nutmeg-spiced rose-petal aromatics and ahint of forest floor. Mocha-tinged soild and strawberry jam fill the mouth with flavor alongside generous notes of tomato leaf, cranberry, and tobacco. Pretty, feminine, and bright.” 95 Points
2016 Westwood Estate Annadel Gap Pinot Noir

2016 Westwood Estate Annadel Gap Pinot Noir

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

WESTWOOD

ESTATE PINOT NOIR
2016 ANNADEL GAP 

2016 Westwood Estate Annadel Gap Pinot Noir
When a winery farms their vineyard biodynamically, and the site is ideally suited for Pinot Noir, AND they hire a world-class winemaker to help achieve their goal, great things happen. Westwood’s winemaker is Philippe Melka, whose vast experience includes winemaking at Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, and Dominus. At around $40, this Pinot absolutely should not be missed.
 
Westwood’s Estate Pinot Noir arose from the cool, wind-swept Annadel Gap, located between Mt. Hood and Sonoma Mountain. The 2016 vintage is remarkably individualistic and laces together some of the top Pinot clones, including Calera, Pommard, 777, and Martini. 
 
Philippe and his winemaking team pay attention to every detail, and picked each clone at the pinnacle of ripeness, before being carefully sorted by hand and fermented individually. The wine was gravity-fed into French oak barrels, where it spent the next 16 months developing on the lees. The result is stunning.
 
WESTWOOD
ESTATE PINOT NOIR
2016 ANNADEL GAP
Retails at: $48
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
“This exuberant wine from the estate site offers rich tones of forest floor and black tea. The palate brings wild strawberry, boysenberry and dried herb tones that veer into an intriguing note of white pepper on the finish.” 93 Points, Editors’ Choice
2015 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

2017 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50CarnerosKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

LAIRD 

2017 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH 

2015 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is remarkably versatile, and stylistically it can be crafted in more ways than just about any other varietal, ranging from light, bright and elegant, to deep, rich and opulent, and of course, everything in-between. Laird’s Single-Vineyard Pinot from Ghost Ranch definitely lives on the full-bodied end of the spectrum, and beautifully reflects that style.
 
Ghost Ranch is a stunning 9 acre vineyard located on the Sonoma side of Carneros. The site got its name from vineyard workers that had reported seeing children between the rows of vines, and when approached, they would vanish.
 
The winery has always attracted expert winemakers, and they’re currently made by Brian Mox whom previously consulted for both Lewis and Etude.
 
The 2017 is an idyllic example of a deep, full-bodied, and lavish Pinot Noir that doesn’t give an inch in terms of balance. So, if you enjoy Big Pinots, the scariest thing about Laird’s Ghost Ranch Pinot would be missing out on a case.   
 
LAIRD 
2017 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $43/btl
 
Tasting Notes: “The Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir 2017 is a rich, supple wine with bright acidity along with a lush, satiny mouthfeel. It begins with ripe boysenberry, cherry cola and baking spices, with a hint of sweet vanilla. The finish is penetrating and long, with an overall balance that draws you back in, sip after sip…” 93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

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

STATE of MIND

2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Great values in Pinot Noir can often come from the small and undiscovered producers that execute a steadfast goal of producing wines with sense of place, vibrancy and life, and that tell a story of their origins.  In many cases despite their small production, their passion for making the best wine possible is immeasurably large, and State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir is a perfect example.
 
State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir arose from a single vineyard planted by veteran Willamette winemakers, and located in heart of the Dundee Hills appellation.  
 
The wine was thoughtfully created by Michael Kennedy who’s an award-winning sommelier and vintner who was previously the Sommelier for Ritz-Carlton, before embarking on his own wine company in Napa Valley that’s been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Food & Wine Magazine and Barron’s.  
 
This wine has all the makings for greatness, but has a production level so low that many will never find out about it… It also comes from one of the greatest vintages in Willamette Valley history, rivaled only by 2012. The Wine Spectator rated the overall vintage 97 Points, highlighting balance and elegance. 
 
 
STATE of MIND
2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price:  Insider Club Members Only
 
Tasting Notes: “A finessed, sleek and elegant Pinot Noir from the WV, showing vibrant red & blue fruits on the nose, with rosemary, hazelnut, thyme, basil and rich earth.  The palate is fresh and offers juicy plum acidity at first, but as it opens, denser more rich flavors develop.   The wine evolves wonderfully with air and benefits from being paid against lighter meat dishes, and seafood accented with spices.  Drink this over the next 30 years.” 
2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNorth CoastPinot NoirRussian River ValleyUncategorizedUSA

JOSEPH JEWELL  2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

 
We’ve introduced some unbelievable values this year, however, there’s still just one that I can honestly say is the best wine I’ve ever tasted in this price range. Every time I taste it, I ‘m perplexed that a wine we can offer at this price can taste like it costs more than double the price.  The 2015 combines fruit from Hallberg, Floodgate and Bucher Vineyards and Williams-Selyem and Gary Farrell fans likely recognize these sites as being spectacular.  The 2015 makes a gorgeous, elegant entrance onto your palate with stunning balance, detail, intensity, and length, and it perfectly portrays everything that I’m exited about in cool climate California Pinot Noir.  It truly drinks like a killer $40+ Pinot, and wines of this quality don’t come around often.
 
This Pinot has been lingering on my mind since I first tasted it, and in equal detail are the mineral-laced raspberries, red cherries, black tea, wild rose and touches of violets that are etched in my memory.  The 2015 was elevated for 11 months in Francois Freres, Ermitage and Rousseau barrels, and has blossomed over the last 3 years in the bottle. If you love Pinot Noir, and better yet, even if you don’t… try a case of this, and I think you’ll become and instant fan.
 
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $40/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “My favorite Pinot Noir brand that I’ve discovered in the last few years, the Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir always over-delivers.  The elegant nose is seamless with bright cherries, mixed berries, flowers and spice.  Then comes the wonderfully balanced, nuanced palate which begins with red cherries, crushed raspberries and plum skin, then balanced by dried rose petal, subtle spices and a touch of oak.  The mouth quenching finish brings lingering flavors, lasting for over a minute, then leaving your palate begging for another sip.” 95 Points
2016 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir

2016 Matias Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

MATIAS

2016 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD

 
Anybody that’s tasted the Pinot Noirs from Matias Winery knows first-hand what an incomparable value they offer. Their Pinots exude a truly high-level of class and sophistication, and they do so at such an amazing value, that many others simply cannot compete.  In fact, the average retail price of other Pinots from Rosella’s Vineyard tops $60 per bottle…  Matias bursts from the glass with bright raspberry and dark cherry fruit, liquid floral, spice box and hints of baked earth.  The vineyard was planted by Gary Franscioni, one of California’s most distinguished growers who also owns the iconic Garys’ and Sierra Mar Vineyards, and is partners in the Pisoni and Soberanes vineyards as well.  Wineries like Roar, Kosta Browne and Loring all make single vineyard Pinots from it, and Matias perfectly articulates the best qualities of the vineyard and at a price that will make you smile.
 
Composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start by working at Williams-Selyem, Matias has become one of our most loved and request Pinots in the shop. They’re micro-produced and artisan made in every way imaginable and our only complaint is that there’s never enough to satisfy the growing demand…
 
MATIAS
2016 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Deep ruby red in color, the bouquet opens with Huckleberry jam and black cherry followed with charcuterie and asian spice. This pinot boasts incredibly concentrated red and dark fruit that lingers, silky textured on the palate. A wine capable of long term aging, every sip offers new nuance.” 197 Cases Produced
2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot Noir

MIRA 2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH

 
Have you ever read about a wine with a narrative so compelling that you knew it was something you absolutely had to have?  That’s what happened when we wrote about Mira’s 2014 Stanly Ranch Pinot and we sold it all out in a matter of hours.  Fortunately for all of us and especially those who missed the 2014, the 2015 is a superb follow-up.  After all, it’s made by winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez, who has two decades of experience at one of the top wine Estates in the world.  He’s responsible for crafting the 2001 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia “Masseto” which received 100 points from Wine Spectator and was described as possibly the best Tuscan red ever…  And the vineyard? You might recognize Stanly Ranch from high-scoring, single-vineyard Pinots made by Saintsbury, Cherry Pie, and Merryvale to name a few.  At $45, this is a Pinot worth trying… Join our Insider’s Club (free) and you may want to stock up with enough to share.  
 
Cut from the historic Stanly Ranch Vineyard on the Eastern side of the Los Carneros Appellation which was originally planted in 1870, this Pinot has terrific intensity, brilliantly detail and plenty of focused fruit.  It has all of the components necessary to be something outstanding and our panel was thrilled with the quality at this modest price point.  Just don’t wait too long to secure yours, because this might go fast. 
 
MIRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH
Retails at:  $45/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “White chocolate, floral and fruit aromas lead the senses into juicy flavors of fresh plums, sweet berries, hints of tobacco and soft tannins. In its youth this is a very tight wine with an acid back bone that ensures years of complexity.”

2016 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

BERNARDUS

2016 PINOT NOIR
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

 
What makes Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir unique?  For starters, it’s one of California’s coolest Pinot producing regions and as a whole, it’s even cooler than the Russian River Valley.  This is due to the prominent ocean breeze and fog from Monterey Bay.  Pinot Noir thrives in cooler climates, which allows the grapes to achieve optimum ripeness and flavor development, but also maintain acidity and structure.  For my palate, the best Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots have an idyllic combination of intense plum and cherry fruit, with earthy nuances that keep me coming back for more.  The balanced acidity and dense core make them both delightful upon release, and something to look forward to in the cellar.  The 2016 Bernardus is exactly what I look for in classically styled SLH Pinot Noir and at 33% below retail, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours.  
 
The 2016 was created from a collage of specifically selected vineyards throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands with the purpose of creating a picture-perfect Pinot.  Their winemaker Dean Dekorth, is well-versed in Santa Lucia Highland fruit, from making Morgan, David Bruce and Talbott.  He also spent 4 years working at some of Burgundies top producers including Olivier LeFlaive, Comtes Lafon and Pierre Morey.   If you love a great value, and crave exceptional Pinot Noir, this one will leave you grinning… 
 
BERNARDUS
2016 PINOT NOIR
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl  

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“Vivid ruby-red. Ripe cherry and red berries on the nose along with hints of licorice and dried flowers in the background. Smooth and fleshy in style showing good energy to the blackberry and bitter cherry flavors. Smooth tannins come in late adding shape to a gently sweet focused persistent finish.” 90 Points “The appellation blend 2016 Pinot Noir SLH Blend is outstanding, offering lots of red fruits and spice, a terrific sense of elegance, medium body, and great balance. It shows the balance and purity that’s the hallmark of the vintage and is ideal for drinking over the coming 6-7 years.” 91 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Bernardus Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots…
2016 Morgan Twelve Clones Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2015 Matia's Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
MORGAN
2016 PINOT NOIR
TWELVE CLONES
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $35.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “Moving to the reds, the 2016 Pinot Noir Twelve Clones (aged ten months in 38% new French oak) offers ample black cherry, violet, and scorched earth aromatics, hints of background oak, medium body, and a beautiful fruit forward, balanced, layered style on the palate. It’s a winner.” 93 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
2016 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2016 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50Anderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUncategorizedUSA

GOLDENEYE 2016 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

 
Duckhorn Wine Company has always had an eye for discovering premium vineyard sites.  Just look at Three Palms Vineyard in Calistoga or their recent purchases of Calera Vineyards on Mount Harlan and Kosta Browne in Sonoma.  In 1996 Dan Duckhorn recognized the potential for world-class Pinot Noir in California’s Anderson Valley AVA.  Perfectly positioned near the Pacific Ocean and with a wide diurnal temperature variation, spanning 40-50 degrees, Duckhorn seized the opportunity to create a Pinot Noir that would stand on its own as one of California’s finest.  They now produce a handful of Pinots under the Goldeneye label, and with the top level ranging $80-$125, their Anderson Valley Pinot is a steal at under fifty bucks.
 
Combining fruit from both warm and cool portions of the Valley, the tension created from the contrast of styles and flavors gives this Pinot a classic portrayal of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Housed for 16 months in oak, the 2016 is wonderfully textured and bursts from the glass with soaring blue and red fruits, black cherry, wild flowers and holiday spices.  If you’re searching for an absolutely classic Anderson Valley Pinot Noir that’s perfectly ready to drink now and will cellar for years to come, this one is for you.
 
GOLDENEYE
2016 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $58/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl  

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YOU SAVE 22%
 
“This wine is full bodied, dark and brooding-in a good way. It has concentrated flavors of black fruit and ripe red berry as well as attractive oak accents of cinnamon and clove. Fine-grained tannins lend ample support and structure.” 92 Points
“Juicy, with firm richness to the burnished dried cherry, berry and cedary flavors. Suave midpalate, featuring a creamy texture. The finish is powered by seductive spice and forest floor notes. Drink now through 2024.” 92 Points
 
 
Customers that enjoy Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2017 Siduri Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
SIDURI
2017 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
 
Your Price: $36/btl

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Winery Notes: “… Aged for 15 months in 35% new French oak, this wine has aromas of warm oak spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, followed by pomegranate, black plum, fresh boysenberry, Portobello mushroom, chestnut, sage, chamomile, and forest floor. The flavors include tart red plum, raspberry, and red currant. Bright acid leads at the front of the palate with a full, juicy texture in the middle. Fine and focused tannin adds length to the finish.”
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

Click to Order

 
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