American Pinot Noirs

We have thousands of wines. Although we carry many national brands, that is not our focus. The following are well made and generally more interesting wines that we are proud to recommend.

Russian River Vineyards Pinot Noir, Central Coast, 2021 ($19.99) - The partner of the Chardonnay under the same name, this very attractive Pinot is the less expensive of the two Pinots we carry under the RRV label. It’s a touch lighter in color and style than our Cloisonné Pinot. That’s not a bad thing; in fact, one could argue that it is closer to its Burgundy roots, and it makes this a perfect red wine pairing for seafood and chicken. 

Cloisonné Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2022 ($20.99) - The new vintage of our best-selling Pinot Noir! David Rossi is a small producer, so we often run out of his wines before the next vintage is released. He has a way with Pinot Noirs, from his entry-level Cloisonné to his mid-tier On Point label to his single-vineyard wines under the Fulcrum label. And Kudos to David for keeping his prices very reasonable at a time of widespread price increases due to weather-induced (fire and smoke) grape shortages in California, and pandemic-related (glass, corks, labels, shipping) cost increases.

Montinore Red Cap Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley-Oregon, 2022 ($22.99) - Montinore is a brand used by Ackley Brands, which owns and farms over 200 acres in Oregon and Italy. The 2022 hasn't been reviewed yet, but it is very similar to 2021 reviewed below. The wine came in at 13% alcohol and was aged for 10 months in a combination of French and Hungarian oak, 20% new. Wine Spectator: 90 $24 “Fresh and zesty, with good energy, this red offers bright cherry and cranberry flavors accented by orange peel and spice hints before finishing on a snappy note. Now - 2031.”

Ninety Plus Cellars Pinot Noir, Eolia-Amity Hills (Willamette Valley-Oregon) Lot 193, 2024 ($21.99) - Although this newly released wine couldn’t have spent more than 8 months in oak barrels, it’s a great quality/price compromise. Eola-Amity is one of Willamette’s most prestigious sub-appellations with vineyards on south and southwest-facing hillsides of deep, volcanic basalt soils. This wine is produced from a small (unnamed) winery that sells this same wine under its own label for $35. Total Pinot production is only 2,000 cases yearly. The soil, long sunlight hours, and cool temperatures create fresh and flavorful Pinot Noir with a sleek texture featuring ripe, dark berry fruit, soft oak, and savory aromas. Silky & expressive. Alcohol: 13.5%

King Estate Inscription Pinot Noir, Willamette-Oregon, 2022 ($24.99) - The King Estate was founded in 1991 by Ed King, Jr. and his wife, Carolyn. They purchased a 600-acre cattle ranch near Lorane, OR, and began planting 16.5 acres of vines. With additional land purchases and plantings over the years, King estate is now one of the largest holdings in Oregon with 1,033 acres of vines. The 2021 vintage in Oregon was excellent with Pinots that are perfumed, fresh, and vibrant. Inscription is their entry-level Pinot and includes some purchased grapes. Each lot is fermented in small batches in stainless steel with up to 20% whole clusters and daily punch downs and pump overs. Seven percent of the juice is bled off (Saignée) to concentrate the color and flavor. After malo, the wine is aged in French oak for 8 months. The wine is zesty and user-friendly, with snappy black cherry, plum, pomegranate, and spicy herb flavors

The Paring Pinot Noir, California, 2022 ($26.59) - Matt also makes this delicious Pinot from Santa Barbara grapes. It aged in 35% new French oak 11 months and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. It’s smooth and deeply fruited in a bold style that still maintains nuance and refinement. Wine Advocate (Matthew Luczy): 90 “Nearly impossible to beat in its price range, an incredible value and a tremendous success in this vintage. Dark-fruited and polished on the nose, the palate is impressively silky and precise with a pleasantly floral, subtly drying finish.”

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, 2024 ($27.99) - Ken Wright is an iconic Willamette Valley winery. Its single-vineyard Pinots are second to none. At less than half the price, this young blend is stunning! Perhaps it lacks the great depth and some of the complexity of its big brothers, but it is a joy to drink. Beautifully balanced and very harmonious, it is everything a New-World Pinot should be. At a great price! Give it some airing/decanting.

Ken was exposed to fine wines from around the world while waiting tables in Lexington, Kentucky, to put himself through school. A passion became an avocation when Ken left the Bluegrass State to attend enology and viticulture classes at UC-Davis. After making wine for Ventana, Chalone, and Talbott Vineyards in California’s Monterey County, friends from Oregon piqued Ken’s interest in that region. A trip to the Dundee Hills in 1976 convinced him that this was where the finest American Pinot Noir was being grown. In 1986, with family, belongings, and 10 barrels in tow, Ken moved to McMinnville and started Panther Creek Cellars, focusing on vineyard-designate bottling. He founded Ken Wright Cellars in 1994 in Carlton, where he now makes single-vineyard bottlings from 13 northern Willamette vineyards. With many civic and philanthropic activities in addition to his excellent wines, Ken has done as much for Oregon and the Oregon wine industry as anyone. The Wine Spectator recognized his lifetime achievements when it made him the first Oregon winemaker to make the cover of the magazine (5/15).

Tagline Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2019 ($27.99) - Gianna Fugazi, the former winemaker at Flowers, makes this lovely Pinot Noir from grapes coming from the cool Sonoma Coast. The 2019 vintage followed a wet winter and a cool spring. The summer never had heat spikes, so the grapes ripened slowly - a near-perfect vintage. The grapes were harvested at 23.5 - 24.3 brix and yielded a wine at 13.9% alcohol, better balanced than many California Pinots with higher alcohol levels. It has a smooth and silky texture in an old-world style with ripe black cherry, dark plum, spice, and vanilla overtones. Overall, it has plenty of fruit, but it’s not overly lush; rather, it’s well-balanced and quite engaging.

Lumen Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, 2021 ($29.99) and Pinot Noir “Julia’s Vineyard,” Santa Maria Valley, 2020 ($67.99) - Most Pinot lovers today don’t remember the wonderful wines made by Lane Tanner in the 1990s and the 2000s because she essentially retired after the 2009 vintage was released. She was a one-woman show, doing almost everything herself, making small amounts of Pinot from various sources in Santa Barbara County. She was never famous with the public because of her understated approach to Pinot Noir, with elegance, relatively low alcohol, and only 20-30% new French oak. But “pinotphiles” respected her honest wines and sought them out. In 2012, Lane met Will Henry in the Santa Maria Valley section of Santa Barbara. He was just starting to make wine, whereas she was essentially retired. They bonded over their shared approach to Pinot Noir and agreed to a joint venture: Lumen was born. They farm their own vineyards organically and purchase grapes from certified sustainable or organic vineyards. These are not deep, rich wines; rather, they represent Lane and Will’s preference for lighter, more delicate wines with substantial acidity from early harvesting. Both show intense aromatics with a spiciness typical of Santa Maria. The flavors are more savory than cherry, slightly stemmy even though no stems are used. Julia’s Vineyard contains the oldest Pinot Noir vines (50+ years, own-rooted) in Santa Barbara County. Lane previously made wines from this vineyard under her own label and now does again. Even more aromatic, deeper, and broader, this bottling will age very well (we just tasted a very sound 2007). These are honest, iconoclastic wines. Both are only 13.0% alcohol. One percent of all sales goes to environmental causes.

Benton Lane Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley-Oregon, 2022 ($31.99) - The postage stamp label! Family-owned Benton Lane, in the southern Willamette Valley, is a biodiverse, 317-acre estate with 140 acres of mostly Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay, much of it planted in 1991. Rolling down over a 500-foot elevation drop, the terrain is a mix of sedimentary and volcanic soils that greatly influence the flavors and texture of the wines. Accomplished winemaker Steve Girard left Napa in 1988, driven by a desire to craft cool-climate Pinot Noir in the then-uncharted Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He found a historic sheep ranch on a sweeping ridge extending from the coastal mountain range, just off the Oregon Trail on Territorial Highway. Decanter Magazine: 93 “Captures the freshness of the Willamette Valley and its bright red berry aromatics that combine with savory herbal notes of mint and pennyroyal. The palate offers red-fruited complexity. Ripe wild strawberries and cranberries rise up from elements of earth and forest floor for an impressive wine, capturing the fresh, lively character of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. 

Anthill Farms North Coast Pinot Noir, NV ($32.99) - Anthill Farms focuses on Pinot Noir from a range of North Coast vineyards. The name refers to the trio of winemakers who scramble around like a bunch of ants. Webster Marquez, Anthony Filiberti, and David Low met while working at Sonoma’s Williams Selyem. Says Marquez, “We realized that we have the same approach: using the most ‘transparent’ grape in the world to communicate the way vineyards from cooler areas create distinctive wines.” The partners themselves farm many of the small plots for their grapes, and the results are seductive wines that combine concentration and finesse. The company has grown from 200 cases in 2004 to 1,800 this year. Their goal is to make wines that express the growing site and the characteristics of the vintage as well as to make wines that, simply put, taste good. These goals require gentle handling, judicious use of oak, and most importantly, leaving the wine alone as much as possible. They farm organically but are not certified. This entry-level wine is a blend of vintages: 45% 2019, 25% 2020, and 30% 2021 from 4 Sonoma Coast and 3 Mendocino vineyards. Technicals: 30% whole cluster, native yeast, aging in 25% new French oak, 18 ppm SO2 at bottling, 13.4% ABV, 1200 cases produced (1800 for the entire operation).

Trisaetum Pinot Noir Coast Range Estate, Yamhill-Willamette-OR, 2017 ($34.99) - We tasted this wine previously and really liked it but thought it was a bit expensive. The distributor just closed it out to make room for the next vintage. Win! Win!! It’s fairly common and generally untrue to call an Oregon Pinot “Burgundian,” but in this case, it’s pretty close to reality. With lighter color, less overt fruit, and more acidity than most American Pinots, it has a very pretty Pinot Noir character and will continue to evolve. Wine Spectator: 90 $49 “Offers precision and structure, featuring medium-weight cherry and blueberry flavors steeped with orange peel and savory bramble notes. Finishes with fine-grained tannins. Best 2021 thru 2025. 580 cases made. Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks): 91 “Medium ruby-purple color and classic aromas of wood-smoke, pipe tobacco, cola, red currant, cranberries, dusty earth, and peppercorn. Medium-bodied, fresh, and grainy, it has great fruit concentration and a long finish. Drink 2020-24” Very limited.

JK Carriere Pinot Noir Provocateur, Willamette, 2023 ($34.99) - After a wild and exotic youth, Jim Prosser settled down to some serious winemaking. He purchases grapes from three dry-farmed vineyards. The best known is Temperance Hill with 41-year-old vines. This wine was aged for over 17 months in 14% new French oak. Give it some air. You will be impressed.

Colene Clemens Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains Dopp Creek, Willamette-Oregon, 2022 ($37.49) - This is the new vintage of an old favorite. The winery was founded in 2005 by Joe and Victoria Stark and named in honor of Victoria’s mother. The estate spans 122 acres where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge. Sixty-two acres are planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Elevation climbs from 350 to 650 feet. The vineyard is dry-farmed and pragmatic: sustainable and organic when possible. The 2022 vintage was nearly a disaster. A mid-April severe frost damaged up to 50% of the buds, which had just begun to open into flowers. Vines put out secondary buds when that happens, but they are delayed by about 6 weeks, and then it’s a race to ripen the grapes before fall temperatures drop too low for further ripening. In this case, miraculous warm weather extended a month later than usual, and the mid-October harvest took place under summer-like temperatures. Even so, yields were down 25%, but their Pinot Noirs have excellent fruit intensity with nicely developed and mature structure.

The wine was aged for 11 months in 33% new, 40% 1-year, and 27% 2-year-old French oak barrels. The clonal composition was 29% Dijon 667, 23% Wädenswil, 15% Dijon 115, 13% Pommard, 13% Dijon 777, and 7% Dijon 11. Wine Spectator: 93 “Sleek yet well-structured, with expressive flavors of raspberry and pomegranate accented by crushed stone, rose petal, and black tea as this builds tension and polish toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2033.”

Sojourn Cellers Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2023 ($39.99) - This is the replacement for the exceptional 2022 vintage. Sojourn is a first-class boutique winery begun by tennis buddies Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley in 2001. Eric had been the Assistant Winemaker at Arrowood Winery. They purchase grapes from highly regarded vineyards in Sonoma and Napa and make small lots of very special wines, including some highly acclaimed single-vineyard wines that are substantially more expensive.

Wine Spectator: 93 $45 “Leads off with a fresh, juicy burst of raspberry and boysenberry fruit, pulling in dried anise and rose hip notes along the way. A lightly singed balsam wood frame holds the finish. Drink now through 2031. 2,550 cases made.” And The Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks): 93 $48 “The 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast comes from eight different vineyards across Sonoma County, including [the famous] Gap’s Crown and Sangiacomo. Matured in 50% new French oak, the nose is bursting with aromas of pomegranate, wild berries, pipe tobacco, oolong tea, and dried herbs. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, nuanced flavors. It has a slender frame of dusty tannins and vibrant acidity and a long, layered finish. Drink 2025 - 2035.”

Russian River Vineyards Pinot Noir “Horseridge Vineyard,” RRV-Sonoma, 2019 ($49.99) - With 22-year-old vines, Horseridge Vineyards lies just 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean on an east-facing slope. Cool night breezes preserve acidity in the grapes, while warm summer days allow the vines to produce the perfect amount of sugar. Six consecutive outstanding vintages mark Horseridge Vineyards as a consistently excellent source of Pinot Noir grapes. Feminine in style, balanced, elegant, fruit forward, lush, soft, and sleek, the wine has a velvety texture, bright fruit, great acidity, and a lasting finish. Fermentation started in open-top fermenters. The wine was then transferred to French oak barrels (35% new) to finish malolactic fermentation and age for 15 months. Only 250 cases were produced. It’s already a beautiful expression of its terroir. The oak is prominent but not intrusive; rather, it complements the delicate structure of the wine. Vibrant and layered, the palate features fig, blueberry, and cranberry with hints of earthy tobacco and spice. The silky texture and nuanced finish make it a standout, offering a perfect harmony of fruit, oak, and savory depth. Or you can buy it from the winery for $67!

Hibou Pinot Noir “Riddle Vineyard,” Russian River Valley, 2016 ($49.99) - Jason and Hilary Driscoll purchase grapes from two blocks of Jim Riddle’s vineyard. One is planted to the 115 clone on a super-steep eastern-facing hillside. It’s picked earlier and the grapes are destemmed. The other block is planted to the Pommard clone on a flatter, more southwest-facing slope. It ripens two weeks later, and its grapes are whole-cluster fermented. The combination is special with strawberry as well as dark fruit character. After four years in the bottle, this has developed into a very classy wine. 

Wentworth Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley-Mendocino, 2021 ($52.99) - New Jersey natives Mark and Katie Wentworth have 25 acres under vine and plan to expand. This quite complex Pinot Noir comes from six different clones grown ORGANICALLY in two of their Anderson Valley vineyards. After 80% destemming, each lot was fermented in open-top fermenters using native yeast and a mix of punch-down and pumpover. Malo and aging (about 10 months) took place in 15% new French oak barrels, the rest second-fill and neutral. The wine was racked twice, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. This beauty still shows some acidic nervousness that should resolve with a few more months of aging. 225 cases made. Wine Spectator: 91 “Packs lovely cherry and Damson plum notes that are racy and pure with sleek sanguine and potpourri accents underscoring the focused finish. Pretty, with subtle persistence. Drink now through 2027.”

AP Vin Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard, 2014 ($53.99) - Wine Advocate (Jeb Dunnuck): 93 "The 2014 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard comes from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in Santa Barbara County. This was an incredibly dry vintage from Sta. Rita, and the stress on the vines made picking decisions difficult. Nevertheless, this is a classic Pinot Noir that offers lots of black raspberry, mulberry, and strawberry fruit characteristics, lots of spice, medium-bodied richness, integrated acidity, and fine tannin. It shows a more pretty, elegant style and is already drinking nicely. Winemaker Andrew Vingiello continues to make a bevy of brilliant wines. They’re always packed with fruit, yet never lose typicity or soul. All of these Pinot Noirs were mostly destemmed (a few have 25% whole cluster) and aged in French oak barrels, with an average of 50% new."

Racines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée, 2021 ($54.99) - Racines is a French foray into California, led by vignerons Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne. American winemaker Ryan Hannaford completes the quartet, the coming together of all that is wonderful about Burgundy, Champagne, and California. As their superb wines have become more tailored to the region, they confirm that Sta. Rita Hills is a great place in the new world to make terroir-driven, elegant, balanced wines. This is the only one of their wines that we have tasted, but their Chardonnay and sparkling wine have also developed a great reputation. The Pinot Noirs employ high percentages of whole clusters and judicious new wood, combining a modern polish with confident but refined structure. The vineyard sources are some of the region’s best—including Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada (Sanford), and Bentrock. A 23-acre estate vineyard has been planted, supplemented by a long-term lease at Wenzlau.

Wine Advocate (Matthew Luczy): 92 “The 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée combines the stellar La Rinconada, Wenzlau, Sanford & Benedict, and Rancho La Viña sites. A dark yet buoyant and graceful nose of blue fruits and savory accents introduces a polished, lush palate with similar precision as found across the range. The finish is intensely saline, with fine-grained, stem-derived tannins appearing after aeration. This is a beautiful introduction to one of the more exciting projects in the Sta. Rita Hills. Drink 2023-2027”

Wine Spectator: 94 $60 “Shows nicely coiled energy with a core of black cherry, mulberry, and plum fruit allied to racy acidity, which carries through on the iris- and anise-tinged finish. A subtle, smoldering earth accent hangs in the background, leaving a flinty echo. Now - 2033.”

Anderson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette, 2021 ($54.99) - The Andersons craft wine in small lots using native yeast. The winery is gravity-fed, meaning there are no pumps. The Pinot is also closer to the Burgundian style with particularly good aromatics. The fruit is lush, and the texture is quite smooth with only 13.1% alcohol. There’s a little less structure than one would find with a comparable red Burgundy, but that’s a quibble for what is a delicious wine. Like the Chardonnay, it is gluten-free and vegan-friendly. Decanter: 94

Bethel Heights Pinot Noir “Aeolian,” Eola-Amity Hills, 2021 ($59.99) - Founded in 1977 by a group of academics (the Casteel, Dudley, and Webb families), Bethel Heights was a pioneering winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This is gentle and refined. Wine Spectator: 94 “A handsome red, polished and refined in structure, offering a fresh burst of raspberry, fresh violet, and cinnamon spice flavors that build richness toward supple tannins. Now-2032. 594 cases made.” 

Anthill Farms Campbell Ranch Pinot Noir, 2020 ($59.99) - Wine Advocate: 93 "Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch is scented of rhubarb, blueberries and tangerine with touches of lilac and underbrush. The palate is delicate and bright, with bursts of acidity elevating its perfumed fruits on the long finish. Drink it now for its bright, friendly fruit.. Drink 2022-2027"

Fulcrum Wines

David Rossi is a Pinot Noir specialist. We've been carrying his wonderful wines for over 10 years. He bottles great value wines under the Cloisonné label. His best wines are under the Fulcrum label. They come from specific vineyards in Sonoma, Anderson Valley, and Chalone where he has long-term contracts for the fruit from specific rows. He also dictates how he wants those rows to be farmed. We currently have the following Pinots:

Wildcat Mountain, Carneros, 2021 ($59.99) - The term "mountain" does not seem to go with the Carneros appellation, a region known to be low and marshy right next to San Pablo Bay.  However, this is exactly what you find in this special sustainably-farmed vineyard. It was planted in 1998 by Steve MacRostie close to the bay at 700 feet above sea level.  Red volcanic soils produce very low-yielding vines that produce fruit of exceptional richness but also finesse.  A cool site due to the winds and elevation, this is often the last Pinot Noir vineyard David picks. Clones Pommard, 115, 777, and 667. Dark crimson in the glass.  Aromas of smoky spice, sandalwood, pine and berries. Lush flavors of deep dark cherry, red berries, and spice.  Silky texture that lingers on the long finish.

Brousseau, Chalone, 2021 ($59.99) - Located in the famed Chalone appellation of Monterey, Brosseau is one of California's premier organic vineyards and one of its most unique. While some Cali vineyards have cool climates, and others have limestone in their soils, very few have both. In 1980, this convergence of climate and geology inspired Jon and Jan Brousseau to plant their iconic vineyard. Tucked into the Gavilan mountain range, east of the Santa Lucia Highlands, Brosseau is a spectacular vineyard for Pinot Noir. It is certified organic, and consistently yields less than 2 tons per acre of dark, exceptionally concentrated fruit. The vineyard’s climate and limestone, decomposed granite, and volcanic rock soils also impart a clear minerality to the wines, as well as a firm, tannic backbone. Fulcrum's blocks include clones Pommard, and 114. Deep garnet hue. Elegant nose of dark cherry, sesame and mineral. Cedar, dark cherry, raspberry, and mineral flavors abound. Satiny texture and acidity that provides the structure for aging. 

Walala, Sonoma Coast, 2021 ($59.99) - Towering above the Pacific, Walala sits 1,200 feet above sea level, just a stones throw from the coast. This is the "true" Sonoma coast and it places it on the edge of the ability to ripen Pinot Noir.  Farming here is not for the faint of heart and requires excellence in execution for every phase of  the growing season. Gravelly loam soils provide the base for clones 828, 777, and 113 that are planted on 3309C rootstock. This location allows the fruit to mature evenly and slowly to develop a richness and complexity that few sites can match. Bright Crimson in the glass.  Aromas of spice, sandalwood, and cherry. Lush flavors of deep dark cherry, red berries, and forest floor.  Silky texture that lingers on the long finish.

Ferrington, 2023, Anderson Valley-Mendocino ($59.99) - David's newest Pinot Noir relationship (a Gewurztraminer has been made for several vintages), this also sports his new label. We haven't tasted it yet, but we trust David. 

Gap's Crown, 2021 ($64.99) - Since being planted in 2002, Gap's Crown Vineyard has emerged as one of the Sonoma Coast’s preeminent sustainable vineyards for Pinot Noir. Nestled on the western hillside of Sonoma Mountain, Gap’s Crown presents an amazing location to capture both the complexity and intensity that define world-class Pinot Noir. The site’s distinctive microclimate is predominantly influenced by summer fog rushing in from the Pacific Ocean through the Petaluma Gap. The soils are rocky and well-drained, and are ideal for Burgundian varietals. David uses clones 114 and 828. Generally the richest of David's Pinots, this has deep dark purple hues. Earth, desert sage, anise, and berry compote on the nose. Mouth-filling blackberries, spice, and earth on the palate.  Long intense finish.  A bold and rich expression of Pinot Noir.

On Point, Sonoma Coast, 2022 ($39.99) - David's standards are so high that he "rejects" some of the bunches from his single vineyard wines. These go into the On Point bottling. Make no mistake, these are still terrific grapes, and this is a terrific wine! We tasted it recently, and it really stood out. Delicious! Wine Spectator: 93 "Almost lush up front, with mulberry and boysenberry compote notes, this is quickly harnessed by lightly chalky minerality, while fresh violet and iris accents emerge on the pure finish. Drink now through 2028."

The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Roland Green, 2017 ($65.99) - This is an amazing Pinot Noir, a single vineyard production of the iconic Eyrie Vineyards in the Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, OR.  It is approachable now, but it will reward 8-10 years of aging. Wine Advocate 94 “The 2017 Pinot Noir Roland Green has a pale ruby color with aromas of forest floor, laurel, tobacco leaves, and woodsmoke with red and black berry fruits. The medium-bodied palate is silky and juicy with a fine balance of intense fruit and earthy accents. It finishes long and savory.” Vinous 94 “Vivid red. Highly perfumed, mineral- and spice-tinged red berry, cherry, and incense aromas carry a suave floral nuance. Seamless and animated on the palate, offering intense raspberry, bitter cherry, spice cake, and rose pastille flavors and a touch of succulent herbs on the back half. Finishes silky, spicy, and impressively long, displaying excellent clarity and fine-grained tannins.” David Lett was a winemaking pioneer in Oregon, establishing his winery in 1965 against the advice of his viticultural professors at UC-Davis. The success of his wines led Robert Drouhin to purchase land nearby and build Domaine Drouhin Oregon.

Martinelli Pinot Noir Biondi Home Ranch, 2021 ($75) - Best known for terrific Zinfandels, the Martinelli family also produces top-notch Pinot Noirs. None of their wines are shy, and this is a big, delicious Pinot. Wine Spectator: 95 “Loaded, with gorgeous succulent, lush boysenberry, mulberry, and açaí berry fruit seamlessly inlaid with singed apple wood, anise, and fruitcake details. Gains additional beguilement from a late flash of potpourri and black tea. Now-2032.”

Freestone Occidental Pinot Noir ($75) - Steve Kistler makes one of California's finest Pinots. We have small amounts of the  2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 vintages. The Wine Advocate reviews are between 95 and 98 points! Not too shabby.

Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Machado Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, 2022 ($96) - Greg Brewer has a way with both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This is stunning, one of California's best Pinots. Wine Spectator: 96 “Offers a beautiful, steady stream of blood orange, bitter cherry, and raspberry coulis notes stitched finely with subtle rooibos tea, singed sandalwood, dried anise, and savory details. Feels pinpoint in focus, with serious length on the finish thanks to the nicely buried mineral tension. Now through 2038.” Very limited.