California Pinot Noir

The Aston Estate is located in a remote part of the Sonoma Coast at Annapolis in Calistoga, just five miles and two mountain ridges from the ocean. The estate originated with the purchase of a 40 acre parcel in 2000, on a gentle... Read More

The Aston Estate is located in a remote part of the Sonoma Coast at Annapolis in Calistoga, just five miles and two mountain ridges from the ocean. The estate originated with the purchase of a 40 acre parcel in 2000, on a gentle... Read More

The Aston Estate is located in a remote part of the Sonoma Coast at Annapolis in Calistoga, just five miles and two mountain ridges from the ocean. The estate originated with the purchase of a 40 acre parcel in 2000, on a gentle... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Diane Cobb Coastlands Vineyard has a medium ruby color and pure layered scents of raspberry jam tobacco leaves lemon peel pencil shavings and saline. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with detailed... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Emmaline Ann Vineyard was made with 50% whole clusters and matured for 22 months in 40% new French oak. It is delicate and broody on the nose at this stage with a core of raspberry fruit and accents of saline... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is beautifully layered and also quite mysterious. Constantly changing in the glass the Hirsch shows all of the pedigree this site is known for. More than anything else the Hirsch balances intensity... Read More

As I mentioned at the outset, this was the only pinot noir Jamie Kutch was able to bottle in the inferno vintage of 2020. This is one of the warmest vineyard sites that Jamie works with, which is probably why the grapes were ready... Read More

Last of the Pinot Noirs the 2020 Pinot Noir Kokoro is a selection from the single vineyards and there are a tiny 900 bottles made. Its light ruby/plum color is followed by a Burgundian bouquet of ripe cherries spiced strawberries... Read More

I always find an incredible sense of minerality from this site and the 2021 Pinot Noir Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard has bright red fruits white flowers crushed stone and violet-like aromas and flavors. Rich medium to full-bodied tight... Read More

Looking at the Sta. Rita Hills releases the 2020 Pinot Noir Seabiscuit Zotovich Vineyard has a complex bouquet of spiced red berry fruits as well as forest floor loamy earth baking spices and some sea-like brine and iron nuances.... Read More

Lighter ruby-hued the 2021 Pinot Noir Seabiscuit Zotovich Vineyard comes from a great site in the Sta. Rita Hills and was destemmed and raised in new French oak. Wild strawberries raspberries rose petals baking spices and loamy... Read More

The 2020 Pinot Noir Suerte Solomon Hills Vineyard comes from a great tiny site outside of Santa Maria and was destemmed and spent 17 months in 52% new French oak. It has some classic Santa Maria minerality and marine-like iodine... Read More

I tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Caprice as a finished barrel sample a week before it was racked to tank and bottled. Made from destemmed grapes and matured in 40% to 50% new French oak it has a medium ruby-purple in color and... Read More

The 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley has a pale to medium ruby color and opens with gravel dust violet Earl Grey tea orange oil autumn leaves and earth with dried red cherries dried cranberry red licorice and wild blackberries.... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard is a heady dazzling wine. The 100% whole clusters lend striking aromatic top notes that soar out of the glass. Sweet red cherry sage rose petal blood orange and lavender give this beguiling... Read More

The 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is a powerful brooding wine. The high percentage of stems (75%) undoubtedly adds savory intensity but it also masks some site character. The 2019 is a gorgeous wine but it is also austere... Read More

This zesty version offers effusive crushed red fruit and spice flavors that show white pepper hints followed by crisp minerality on the lively open-textured finish. Drink now through 2023.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Special Reserve marries the breadth and substance of Anderson Valley with the light touch Noah Dorrance favors here. Succulent red cherry fruit spice menthol licorice and dried herbs build nicely as this mid-weight... Read More

The 2011 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is the most open and radiant of the 2011 Sandhi Pinots mostly because high amounts of shatter lowered yields dramatically. Floral and savory notes come to life as the wine sits in the glass... Read More

An even spicier combination features notes of fresh tobacco briar and the essence of red cherry. There is excellent energy to the solidly concentrated middle weight flavors that are plump round and seductively textured while displaying... Read More

Stephane Vivier refers to himself as the Lazy Winemaker.

With a minimalistic, handsoff approach, Stephane a native Burgundian has a love for Pinot Noir. After studing across the globe from Switzerland, Sonoma and New Zealand,... Read More