2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

RAEN

PINOT NOIR
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast
The Mondavi family is one of the most well-known names in American viticulture, and their innovation continues to influence the wine industry worldwide. The family began planting Pinot Noir over 100 years ago, and Tim Mondavi pioneered the variety in the early 1970s, later transferring his passionate endeavors to his sons Carlo and Dante. The boys grew up at Opus One estate and learned keen winemaking techniques from their father at his cult winery Continuum.
 
RAEN Royal St. Robert Cuvée Pinot Noir is a tribute to their grandfather, who has been the most valuable mentor in the wine industry. It is a blend of hand-chosen selections of coastal vineyards that give a flavorful depiction of the Sonoma Coast. The 2021 release is 100% whole cluster, natively fermented, and bottled without fining or filtration, creating a super-pure style of Pinot Noir with a powerful core and a vibrant finish.
 
RAEN
PINOT NOIR
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST 2021
 
 
 
“Extremely spicy with iron, forest flower, black tea, and dried strawberry aromas, following through to a medium to full body, with lovely velvety tannins that are integrated and refined, with a long and flavorful finish. Yet it always remains refined and poised in a exemplary way. Needs three or four years still to show it’s true self. Drink or hold.”
97-98 Points
2021 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma County

2021 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma County

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

WILLIAMS SELYEM

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY 2021

2021 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma County
Burt Williams and Ed Selyem had an affinity for Burgundy that neither of them could afford, so in the early 1970s, the two set out to make their own Pinot Noir. The goal was to produce wines for themselves; however, Burt nor Ed realized at the time that they were setting the standards for American Pinot Noir. Williams Selyem began with fruit purchased from growers with a simple handshake agreement, and 35 years later, those agreements are still in place and hold a testament to the loyal relationships Burt and Ed created. In 2009, their 2007 Litton Estate Pinot Noir was awarded a 100-Point score by Wine Enthusiast, making it the first California Pinot Noir with a perfect score. 
 
The 2021 Sonoma County Pinot Noir has stunning, pristinely balanced fruit quality from Drake Estate, Klopp, MacGregor, Putnam, Olivet Lane, and Starkey Vineyards. Despite the difficult beginning of the growing season, the vintage commenced with ideal temperatures and slightly below-average yields combined with exceptional fruit quality and vivacity, finely layered flavors, and site specificity.
 
WILLIAMS SELYEM
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY 2021
 
Your Price: $65
 
 
“Layered and complex, the Sonoma County Pinot Noir offers strawberry and cherry fruit notes with hints of oolong tea. Clove and wood spices add further depth and intrigue. Sourced from many parts of the Russian River Valley and the Coast, this wine offers a broad brushstroke of the beauty of our diverse fruit sources. Red fruits on the palate with citrus peel undertones overlay onto the supple tannin structure that is refined and elegant.”
2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

RAMEY 

PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
David Ramey earned a graduate degree from UC Davis in 1979, just before he began working for the Moueix family at their renowned property, Château Pétrus. There he absorbed every detail of their old-world winemaking philosophy, which he brought back to California, firmly establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill as winemaker, then project manager for Dominus Estate.
 
Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David and his wife Carla, and they have been producing award-winning wines of critical acclaim ever since. The 2018 Russian River Pinot Noir arose from top vineyard sites, including De La Montanya, Bucher, Dutton Goff, and Kilcullen. David fermented them with native yeast using 25% whole clusters, and aged them on the lees for 13 months in French oak, resulting in a beautifully elegant, delineated Pinot Noir.
 
RAMEY 
PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is spicy and lifted with cinnamon and dried roses, fresh with wild raspberry fruit and blood orange. The palate is medium-bodied and softly textured, characterized by elegance and finesse. Drink over the next 10 or so years.”
94 Points
2019 Eco Terreno Cuvee Tierra Red Blend Alexander Valley

2019 Eco Terreno Cuvee Tierra Red Blend Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUSA

ECO TERRENO

CUVEE TIERRA RED BLEND  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2019

2019 Eco Terreno Cuvee Tierra Red Blend Alexander Valley
Eco Terreno Wines are at the forefront of sustainable farming and a leader in biodynamics, placing a high importance on the health of the vineyard and the environment to grow the highest quality fruit. Founder and winemaker Mark Lyon, the former lead winemaker at Sebastiani Vineyards, draws from his years of experience with Alexander Valley fruit and focus on finding harmony with nature.
 
The winery is located within a small hamlet of the Russian River in Alexander Valley, experiencing coastal fog from the Petaluma Gap, blanketing the vineyards each morning, preserving acidity and freshness. The ideal growing season in 2019 allowed Mark to dial into each plot for the Cuvée Tierra blend consisting of 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 24% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot that delivers serious quality for this value price.
 
ECO TERRENO
CUVEE TIERRA RED BLEND  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $27
 
 
“The Eco Terreno 2019 Cuvée Tierra Alexander Valley Red Blend opens with violets, earth, dried herbs, chocolate-covered strawberries, black cherries, and cloves. On the palate, the wine has ripe, chalky tannins and beautifully balanced flavors of blackberries, red plums, cinnamon, vanilla bean, savory spice, and black olives. The wine has a soft texture that is easy to drink right now with enough intensity to age a few years in the cellar.”
94-95 Points
2020 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County

2020 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Proprietary WhiteSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

ARBE GARBE

WHITE BLEND 2020
SONOMA COUNTY

2020 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County
Letizia Pauletto and Enrico Maria Bertoz have reconnected with the roots of their native region of Friuli, Italy, by crafting pure, refined wines from Friulian varieties uncommonly found in the US. Enrico and Letizia worked harvests in Friuli while attending college, polishing their skills and picking up valuable old-world techniques. After arriving in California, Enrico gained additional experience at Sine Qua Non, Joseph Phelps, and Flora Springs, paving the way for his success with this brand.
 
Arbe Garbe is a white blend of Tocai Friulano, a relative of Sauvignon Blanc, of which only around 50 acres are planted in California, Malvasia Bianca, an ancient variety with Greek origins, and Chardonnay. The 2020 release may be the freshest yet with clean, crisp, focused flavors that are unlike any other wine from California and provides a unique and inviting drinking experience.
 
ARBE GARBE
WHITE BLEND 2020
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The Arbe Garbe 2020 Sonoma County Proprietary White begins with opulent floral notes of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and jasmine, followed by cinnamon apple strudel, quince, ginger, and lemon verbena. The flavors on the palate are a bit riper with golden apple, green pineapple, white peach, nectarine, and a hint of honey. This wine is delightfully refreshing with a medium body, providing roundness and checking all the boxes.”
95 points
2021 Occidental Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental Sonoma Coast

2021 Occidental Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $60-$70Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

OCCIDENTAL 

FREESTONE-OCCIDENTAL
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST

2021 Occidental Pinot Noir Freestone-Occidental Sonoma Coast
Steve Kistler worked his first harvest for Ridge Vineyards in 1975 and observed the obvious difference in the character of the cool climate, coastal fruit versus fruit grown in warmer vineyards further inland. Steve developed a taste for marine-influenced wines, opened Kistler Vineyards in 1978, and has been a Pinot Noir pioneer since the early 1990s. He then sought ridges and terraces near the small town of Bodega, which he believes have the ideal soil and climate for producing Burgundian-styled wine. 
 
After selling his stake in Kistler Vineyards in 2008, Steve embarked on a new project named Occidental focused on cool-climate Pinot Noir of the utmost quality. The 2021 Freestone-Occidental Pinot Noir comes from the Bodega Headlands, Occidental Station, and Bodega Ridge vineyards and shares the same winemaking regimen as their single vineyard Pinots and projects a bright, focused energy that will develop beautifully over time.
 
OCCIDENTAL 
FREESTONE-OCCIDENTAL
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $69.99
 
 
“The Occidental Freestone-Occidental Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 begins with an evocative nose of cherry cough drop, cola bean, salami, Spring florals, and dried herbs. The gorgeous, penetrating palate continues with bright red fruits, fresh mixed berries, sweet dark cherries, bay leaf, and a saline minerality. It balances power and elegance in a way that beautifully expresses the best characteristics of the Pinot Noir varietal. The long, drawn-out finish and mouth-quenching acidity make it an amazing treat that I can’t wait to enjoy again.”
95 Points

2021 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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

FLOWERS

PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST 

Over three decades ago, Joan and Walt Flowers took a risk and planted their first vineyard along the “far” Sonoma Coast, known for its rough and rugged windswept shoreline. They were among the first to grow in the area, seeing the vast potential to create wines that express their origin and promote the region’s unique flavors from the remote coastal ridges.
 
This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir features a selection of fruit from Lavio Ranch, Hallberg Ranch Vineyard, Bohan Ranch, and the Flowers’ Sea View Ridge Estate, reflecting the ultimate expression of cool-climate, coastal fruit. The 2021 vintage gave small yields of grapes with an impressive depth of flavors elaborately layered into a backbone of fine tannins, giving a polished texture and a refined, lush finish.
 
FLOWERS
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST 
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“This has nice tension and tannic framing. Full-bodied, firm and lightly chewy with freshness, and spicy character to the ripe strawberry and cherry on the finish.”
93 Points
2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

SOJOURN

CHARDONNAY 2019
SONOMA COAST

2019 Sojourn Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 as a first-class artisanal winery with a competitive drive to make limited bottlings from some of California’s most expressive and distinctive vineyards. The winery produces highly acclaimed Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa and Sonoma counties that seamlessly showcase the brilliance of each specially selected location.
 
The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a blend of Sangiacomo Vella Ranch, Durell Vineyard, Sangiacomo Roberts Road, and Gap’s Crown Vineyards, all known for their laser-focused expression of cool-climate characteristics. The 2019 growing season was similar to 2018, with mild weather, but yields were lower, which increased the overall concentration of the fruit, creating wines with impressive depth and complexity.
 
SOJOURN
CHARDONNAY 2019
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The 2019 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is a beauty that gives up a fresh, lively, medium-bodied style as well as textbook Chardonnay ripe orchard fruits, white flowers, and honeyed toast. I like its overall balance on the palate, it has good acidity, and outstanding length.”
93 Points
2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MARTIN RAY

PINOT NOIR 2021
HALLBERG RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley
Martin Ray dedicated his life to creating single-varietal wines from unique AVAs that genuinely represented the site where the grapes were grown. Courtney Benham purchased the brand in 1990 and continues where Martin left off, producing the same stylistically pure, terroir-driven wines and utilizing his natural talent for selecting distinctive vineyards.
 
The Hallberg Vineyard was a former apple orchard on the edge of Green Valley, where the vines are 100% dry-farmed, which lends to the grapes reaching complete physiological ripeness at lower sugar levels. The site’s distinctive, marine-influenced fruit attracts some of Sonoma’s top producers to make wine from it, including Gary Farrell, Joseph Jewell, and Emeritus. Martin Ray’s version is supple and rich in red fruits, capturing the vineyard’s distinct identity wrapped into a lush, easy-drinking, delightful wine.
 
MARTIN RAY
PINOT NOIR 2021
HALLBERG RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $42

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“This is very fine with sliced strawberries and a hibiscus character throughout. Medium body. Very focused with fine tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Lots of energy. Fantastic. Drink or hold.”
95 Points
 
2018 Westwood Pinot Noir Sonoma County

2018 Westwood Pinot Noir Sonoma County

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

WESTWOOD

PINOT NOIR 2018
SONOMA COUNTY

2018 Westwood Pinot Noir Sonoma County
Westwood proprietor Carl Stanton founded his Annadel Gap Vineyard in 1998, and over the next dozen years, his viticultural team planted and replanted each block to discover the vineyard’s unique identity. The Annadel Gap lies between Sonoma Mountain and Mount Hood. Like the Petaluma Gap, cool Pacific breezes and thick fog roll in most mornings and evenings, resulting in fruit with fully developed, complex flavors and fresh acidity.
 
Westwood’s team farms their vineyards biodynamically, providing renowned winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky pure and exceptional quality fruit to seamlessly bring their vineyards to life in their wines. The 2018 growing season gave Pinot Noir grapes great intensity, elegance, and layers of decadent flavors, and this wine from the Annadel Gap Vineyard is a stunning example.
 
WESTWOOD
PINOT NOIR 2018
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Sourced from the estate’s Annadel Gap Vineyard as well as parcels in Petaluma Gap vineyard Terra de Promissio, this wine was aged 18 months in (41% new) French oak and bottled unfil- tered. Aromas of fresh red cherry, chocolate, and cinnamon lead to a palate that is juicy to its core. Caramel apple, tomato leaf, lavender, and cranberry are vibrant and the mouthfeel generous, opening up to baking spices backed by beetroot and rhubarb. Complex and delicious.”
95 Points