2018 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate, Russian River

2018 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate, Russian River

with No Comment $80-$90Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ROCHIOLI 

2018 PINOT NOIR 
ESTATE, RUSSIAN RIVER

2018 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate, Russian River
Rochioli is one of the most distinguished vineyards in North America, and it’s revered for producing powerful and vividly distinct berries. The family recognized the potential to grow world-class Burgundian varieties on their property early on. Their first release was named The Best Pinot Noir in America by the Wine Spectator, and decades later, the following for their brand is more robust than ever.
 
The 2018 Russian River Pinot Noir represents the essence and character of the entire Estate by intricately combining five of the winery’s coveted single-vineyards; Sweetwater, Little Hill, Big Hill, West Block, and East Block. 
 
Tom Rochioli’s winemaking philosophy of producing terroir-driven wines made with minimal intervention, and built on a foundation of superb fruit, helped make them one of the top producers in North America. The 2018 release is supremely balanced, concentrated, and powerfully focused.
 
ROCHIOLI 
2018 PINOT NOIR 
ESTATE, RUSSIAN RIVER
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“This blockbuster wine is a single-vineyard blend of the winery’s best blocks, including 40% Sweetwater, 39% Little Hill, 12% Big Hill, 6% West Block and 3% East Block. Together, they find unison in spicy, woody and earthy tones of white pepper and tingling acidity. It delivers a powerful freshness followed by forest notes, black tea and baked strawberry.”
97 Points
 
“A good value in world-class Pinot Noir, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley comes from a mix of the estate’s single vineyard and was 95% destemmed and brought up in French oak. It has a great red fruit-driven core as well as lots of floral and spice notes, medium body, great acidity, and no shortage of length on the finish. It’s great today and will shine for 7-8 years.”
94 Points
 
“The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate is such a pretty wine. Crushed red berries, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange infuse the 2018 with tremendous character, especially at this level. A Pinot of precision and nuance, the 2018 Estate brilliantly shows the direction Tom Rochioli has taken his wines in recent years. Readers will find an especially compelling edition of the Estate in 2018.”
93 Points
 
“Powerful and pure-tasting, with underbrush accents and hints of white pepper to the dark currant and dried raspberry flavors. Cedary in the midpalate, with a long finish of dried beef and loamy notes. Drink now through 2025.”
93 Points
2018 Prisoner Wine Co. Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Prisoner Wine Co. Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2018 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2018 Prisoner Wine Co. Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon
The inspiration for Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon is grapevine cuttings cultivated on high-elevation vineyards transversing through some of California’s most sought-after regions. Revered for crafting unique blends unrestricted by tradition, Cuttings ownership, along with winemaker Chrissy Wittmann, built Cuttings around 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The richly layered 2018 release has supple dark fruits, intriguing complexity, and at less than $50, is a substantial value.
 
Prisoner winemaker Chrissy Wittmann called on a diverse variety of clones and terroirs, primarily from hillside vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Red Hills Appellation to create this masterpiece. She combined the deep, intense flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon with Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zin’s structure and richness. 
 
This wine is the bigger, more masculine brother to the popular Prisoner Red blend, and Chrissy made it in an irresistibly plump, velvety style. The 2018 vintage spent 18 months in 40% new French oak barrels, and it’s stunning now… Right out of the bottle.
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2018 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Deliciously smooth with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and cocoa. Aromas of fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, and wild berries.”
2017 Balletto Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2017 Balletto Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

BALLETTO 

2017 ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 

2017 Balletto Zinfandel Russian River Valley
Balletto Vineyards has intimate knowledge of their land, which stems from hand-tending each vine throughout the year. Their team has complete control of the vineyard and in the cellar, and they’re meticulous in every aspect. The fact that they own 700 acres of vines in Sonoma County and only keep the top 10% of their grapes for their Estate wines is palpable in your glass. At less than $30, their Russian River Zinfandel is bright, balanced, elegant in style. It drinks beautifully and is a serious value.
 
The 2017 Zinfandel was forged exclusively from the winery’s own BCD Vineyard located in the rolling hills leading up the Coastal mountain range. The vineyard’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean allows the fruit to develop slowly, resulting in full, complex flavors that perfectly reflect their origin. 
 
The winemaking team looks for the perfect balance of bright, forward fruit, along with deep, rich flavors of bigger-styled Zins. To achieve their signature style, they harvest at the pinnacle of ripeness and age the Zin for ten months in French and American oak barrels, which lend spice and structure to the wine, matching the inherent characteristics of the varietal.
 
BALLETTO 
2017 ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $28
 
 
“Each year, Balletto produces a distinctly bright and aromatic Zinfandel. It’s part floral, part mixed black berry and part earth and savory spices that fill the background. It’s distinct and delicious and makes a solid statement about Zinfandel that’s grown in a cooler climate and made with the fine touch associated with Pinot Noir producers. The wine is rich with an integrated mid-palate weight that’s balanced with crisp acidity on the front and fine, cocoa-like tannins on the finish. The resulting wine is complete and balanced with the vibrant aromatic profile melding nicely with the flavors and texture of the wine.”
2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

with No Comment $40-$50Dry Creek ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUSA

RIDGE

2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs
Ridge utilizes pre-Industrial winemaking techniques that were common in Bordeaux and California around the 19th Century. These methods involve fermenting with natural yeasts, winemaking decisions based on taste, and not adding any commercial enzymes or nutrients for extracting color, flavor, and tannins. It’s a philosophy that’s paid off, and when paired with historic vines, it creates wines of sensational quality. Their 2018 Lytton Springs is one of their best, and with double 96 point reviews, don’t miss it.
 
Lytton Springs vineyard was planted in the early 1900s, and the ancient Zinfandel Vines are interplanted with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. Ridge produced their first vintage from Lytton Springs in 1972, and the consistency of character and quality of the fruit has been a hallmark of the site ever since. 
 
The 2018 vintage combines 72% Zinfandel balanced with Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Mourvedre. The wine has stunning depth and complexity that winemakers can’t replicate with younger vines.
 
RIDGE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“…The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blue berries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It’s stunning straight from bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar.”
96 Points
 
“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!”
96 Points
2019 Alma De Cattleya Chardonnay Sonoma County

2019 Alma De Cattleya Chardonnay Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

ALMA de CATTLEYA

2019 CHARDONNAY 
SONOMA COUNTY 

2019 Alma De Cattleya Chardonnay Sonoma County
Bibiana González Rave’s unwavering commitment to superior quality, accessible prices, varietal purity, and origin in her wines is highly transparent. She makes wines in a bright and cheerful style tied to the year’s hallmarks and location of the grapes. I’ve stopped asking how she can create wines with such surreal quality, sense of place, and value, and I’m just simply going to enjoy them and share them with you.
 
Bibiana created this brilliant 2019 Chardonnay from methodically selected vineyards, each with a strong coastal influence that lends to the perfect balance of acidity, texture, softness, and length. She then crafted this wine using the same exacting standards as the Cattleya single-vineyard Chardonnays, which retail for around $70 per bottle. 
 
Bibiana has extensive experience making wine in Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley in France and South Africa. When she came to California, industry leaders immediately recognized her talents as she helped shape brilliant wines at Peay, Lynmar, and Pahlmeyer, to name a few. At just $26, you have to try this.
 
ALMA de CATTLEYA
2019 CHARDONNAY 
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $26
 
 
“Lush notes of red apple and juicy pear balance beautifully with notes of lemon curd, honeysuckle and hints of toasted vanilla. Bright acidity and a rich mouthfeel add complexity and a textured, complex finish.”
2018 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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

FLOWERS

2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 

2018 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Flowers is a winery dedicated to crafting elegantly balanced wines that express their vineyard’s authentic voice. They’re able to achieve this through organic farming and minimal intervention in the cellar. As a result, their wines faultlessly showcase fresh coastal minerality, hallmark purity of fruit, and complex nuances derived from their land. The 2018 release is, as Jeb Dunnuck writes, “impeccably made and high-quality.”
 
Joan and Walt Flowers helped shape Pinot Noir production along the extreme Sonoma Coast and were among the first to plant grapes in the area known as the Fort Ross Seaview AVA. The region is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli, Fort Ross, and Pahlmeyer, to list a few. 
 
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. At under fifty bucks, I highly recommend harvesting some for your cellar.
 
FLOWERS
2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $46
 
 
“… Lots of spice box, earthy forest floor, cherries, and redcurrant notes define the bouquet, and it’s medium-bodied and balanced, with good acidity and a great finish. As with everything from this estate, it’s impeccably made and high-quality.”
93 Points
 
“This complex wine is thick in tannin and structure, with nuanced underlying elegance. Textured, it offers dried herb, clove, wild strawberry and a twist of blood orange on the palate, with acidity interwoven within the integrated oak.”
91 Points
 
“… pretty, aromatic and super-elegant. Crushed flowers, dried cherry, mint, sage, cedar and tobacco are some of the many notes that develop in the glass. The 2018 is perfumed, light on its feet and exquisitely beautiful—all qualities that make it a terrific choice for drinking over the next handful of years. Drink 2020 – 2026”
90 Points
2016 Coursey Graves West Slope Syrah Bennett Valley

2016 Coursey Graves West Slope Syrah Bennett Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSonomaSonoma MountainSyrahUSA

COURSEY GRAVES

2016 WEST SLOPE SYRAH
BENNETT VALLEY

2016 Coursey Graves West Slope Syrah Bennett Valley
Winemaker Cabell Coursey works tirelessly to uncover and illuminate some of Napa and Sonoma’s lesser-known vineyards that are quietly yielding world-class grapes. He seeks out steep hillside plots that experience cool atmospheric conditions and have rocky soils that share similarities to the austere conditions of Bordeaux. These vineyards are capable of producing concentrated fruit with majestic characteristics that are unique to their origin. When I first tasted his 2016 West Slope Syrah last year, my immediate thought was, I’m getting a case of this for my cellar.
 
Coursey Graves Estate Vineyard is located a thousand feet above sea level on Bennett Mountain, where the ancient volcanic soils and unique micro-climate is ideally suited for Syrah. The wine is powerfully compelling, richly layered, and effortlessly elegant. 
 
Burgundy inspired winemaker Cabell Coursey, and he learned winemaking from the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. Then he honed his skills in New Zealand and the Willamette Valley before working at iconic producers DuMOL and Kosta Browne. The 2016 release has several stellar reviews, but DougAndrea on CellarTracker may have said it best with his quote, “OMG. Buy more…” 
 
COURSEY GRAVES
2016 WEST SLOPE SYRAH
BENNETT VALLEY
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“Very savory and smoky, this Sonoma syrah is anything but a fruit bomb. The slightly sappy tannins and smoked-bacon flavor nicely balances the underplayed ripeness. The finish is fresh with plenty of spicy complexity. Drink or hold.”
93 Points
 
“Deep ruby-purple, the 2016 Syrah Estate West Slope has a very pretty nose with scents of violet, stone and graphite with touches of tar and olive over a concentrated core of blackcurrant, warm black cherries and spice box. Full-bodied, it gives up intense, spiced blue and black fruits framed by firm, ripe tannins and good freshness, finishing very long…”
92 Points
 
“This is a thick, rich and unctuously varietal wine, smoky in oak and beautifully wrapped layers of grilled meat and game. A thicket of lavender and licorice gives it complexity and more to ponder.”
90 Points
2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley

2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRussian River ValleySauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

SIDEBAR

2019 SAUVIGNON BLANC
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2019 Sidebar Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
Sidebar is the second label for Ramey Wine Cellars, and the wines are designed for instant gratification while waiting for the Ramey bottlings to mature. They make their Sauvignon Blanc in a brightly focused style that balances floral and citrus characteristics. Since their inception, the wines have generated a bevy of positive reviews that are themed by terrific value, quality, and bang-for-the-buck. 
 
The 2019 vintage balances two distinct Russian River terroirs, with the primary fruit component located at the Northeast part of the Valley and the second one positioned on the Western edge. 
 
Dave’s associate winemaker at Ramey, and winemaker at Sidebar, Lydia Cummins, combines clone 1, which originated from Chateau d’Yquem, with Musque Clone, resulting in a fresh, brightly focused wine. The results are divine, and at $22, a single case may not be enough.
 
SIDEBAR
2019 SAUVIGNON BLANC
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $25
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
 “The nose of the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc is gregarious with gooseberries, white peaches, fresh herbs and lychee. The palate is light-bodied, bright and crisp with fresh fruit flavors and lifted acidity, finishing clean.”
90 Points
 
“White grapefruit, crushed citrus, and a kiss of lemon rind all emerge from the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley, a juicy, medium-bodied, lightly textured white that’s about as gulpable as they come. Drink it over the coming year or two. These Sidebar Cellars releases from David Ramey continue to offer loads of bang for the buck.”
88 Points
2017 Ty Caton Winemaker's Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

2017 Ty Caton Winemaker’s Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainSonomaUSA

TY CATON 

WINEMAKER’S CUVEE
2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 

2017 Ty Caton Winemaker's Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District
Ty Caton’s motto is to produce handcrafted wines of distinction with an authentic sense of place from his incredible Estate vineyard on Moon Mountain. He divided his 40-acre vineyard into distinct blocks defined by sun exposures, soil type, incline, clone, and elevation to help achieve this. His wines showcase their varietal intently and are powerful yet perfectly restrained and balanced. Each year his Winemaker’s Cuvee offers a fantastic portrayal of his entire property and the vintage itself, and at less than thirty bucks, the value is substantial.
 
The Caton Vineyard is on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder. The well-drained red volcanic soils are also home to icons like the Monte Rosso, which was made famous by Louis Martini, and the Frederick’s Vineyard used by Turley.  
 
In the 2017 release, Ty’s Winemaker’s Cuvée is centered around 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and made even more complex with additions of Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Merlot. The wine has terrific fruit intensity, supple tannins, and noble balance.
 
TY CATON 
WINEMAKER’S CUVEE
2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $38
 
Your Price: $28 
 
 
“The 2017 Estate Winemofaker’s Cuvee meets the palate with rich and full-bodied flavors of black currant, red plums, and cassis, followed by oak notes of cedar and vanilla. These dark flavors produce a lush and velvety textured mouth feel that combine with supple tannins and leads to a long silky finish.”
2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

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

GOLDENEYE

2017 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
The Duckhorn Group crafts Goldeneye Pinot Noir in a lavishly rich style, yet it presents elegance and charm. Their Anderson Valley Pinot hatched from predominantly Estate vineyards, defined by wind, fog, and a considerable diurnal temperature variation. If you’re searching for a classic Anderson Valley Pinot that’s deep, rich, and is not only enjoyable upon release but has the ability to age, this one is for you. 
 
Dan Duckhorn recognized the potential for world-class Pinot Noir in California’s Anderson Valley AVA in the late 1990’s, and he seized the opportunity to create a Pinot Noir that would stand on its own as one of California’s finest. The winery now produces a handful of Pinots under the Goldeneye label, and with the top-level wines ranging from $80-$125, their Anderson Valley Pinot is a steal at under $50. 
 
Goldeneye winemaker Katey Larwood intertwines fruit from warm and cool portions of the Valley, creating tension from the contrast of styles and flavors, giving this Pinot a classic portrayal of the region. Nesting for 16 months in oak, the 2017 release is a richly textured wine with velvety red and black fruits, wildflowers, and holiday spices.
 
GOLDENEYE
2017 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at: $58
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Starting with the 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, which comes from multiple sites in the Anderson Valley and spent 16 months in 60% new French oak, it has a juicy berry-fruited nose as well as ample violets, candied orange peel, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It’s one of the more approachable wines in the lineup yet still has classic Anderson Valley structure and minerality, medium body, and a great finish.”
90 Points
 
“Capturing the rustic elegance of the Anderson Valley, this wine begins with lively aromas of fresh-picked wild strawberry, dusty earth and sweet tobacco leaf. The dynamic strawberry aromas are echoed on the palate, where they are supported by supple tannins and a bright underlying acidity that adds energy and zest to a long, nuanced finish.”