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Sources for this wine are El Diablo and Star Ridge, planted to Pommard and Vosne Romanée selections. Star Ridge is the older site and was originally part of the Gary Farrell estate. The Pommard here is Clones 4 and 5, with Clone 5 being the cleaned-up selection. At this stage, the fruit profile leans a touch baked, but it’s still quite delicious—think strawberry and cherry pie with classic cherry-pie spice. The palate is rich, satiny and velvety, driving a long, creamy and inviting finish.

Winemaker Rob Folin says he loves the sweetness and toastiness imparted by the Icon barrels used to age this wine—“it’s not just salt and pepper,” he notes, “it’s the steak and butter sauce, too.” The 2019 was fermented in open-top bins and aged in 40% new French oak Icon barrels. The result is a terrifically spicy wine with good density and width, dark cherry fruit dusted with cardamom and coriander, hints of wood smoke, clove, and allspice, and super-fine, sweet tannins that carry through a long, elegant finish.

Winemaker Rob Folin’s second vintage at Belle Fiore. This is a robust and bold Pinot Noir with a rich, dark-fruited profile, black cherry, and cherry coulis, rose petals and sgaebrush. Has a MB palate feel with firm tannins and notes of black tea on the finish. Fermented in open top bins, and aged 18 months in 30% nfr.

This Pinot Noir spent 17 months on the lees in 50% new French oak, and as of May 2025, it’s showing beautifully—squarely in its prime. Fragrant notes of black tea and Earl Grey mingle seamlessly with ripe cherry, dusty minerality, and undertones of tobacco and bay laurel. The tannins are sweet-sappy and glide effortlessly across the palate, resolving into a savory, mineral-laced finish accented by pink Himalayan sea salt and a lift of blood orange zest.

On other labels, you’ll see Home Ranch listed as Chenoweth Ranch. This wine is pretty generous, sourced from vines planted on Goldridge soils with classic Pinot Noir clonal selections. It shows rich red fruit, a touch of mulberry, and Christmas-spice warmth, with plenty of Russian River Valley plushness. Dried violets, fig notes, and baked-cherry tones carry through on the finish, supported by firm tannins that build as the wine closes. CIRQ and CHEV also source fruit from this site.

This is the winery’s flagship wine from the Green Valley of the Russian River Valley. Sourced from Home Ranch, Treehouse, and Bootlegger’s, it’s a fragrant Pinot that opens with dark-berry fruit, fig paste, brown baking spices, and a touch of underbrush. Crisp tannins support a juicy core, with plenty of warm spice character, a bit of black pepper, and perfumed rose petals that carry through the lengthy finish.

That’s quite a wine. It’s a robust, richly styled Pinot Noir with super-dark fruit, loamy earth, and an intense underbrush and deep-forest character, all threaded with an elegant sea-spray minerality. The wine is also incredibly floral, showing rose-petal lift alongside black-tea tannins and a distinct red-rock minerality that likely reflects the unique red soils of this site. I really love where this wine is in its life cycle — it has just the right balance of ripe fruit and savory nuance.

Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen at Rancho Tinaquaic. Their grapes are SIP Certified and sustainably farmed. The 2020 Pinot Noir is a powerhouse—still tightly wound in 2025, with tremendous tension and broad-shouldered, sinewy tannins. Dark cherry fruit interlaces with incense and espresso bean aromas, while tangy tangerine peel and blood orange acidity bring freshness and lift. The finish is long and textured, with notes of dusty cocoa powder and cherry pit.

Sourced from Patrician Verona Vineyards on the west side of Cayuga Lake, this wild ferment, unfined and unfiltered Pinot Noir was partially fermented in neutral French oak, then crafted in the traditional Champagne method with no dosage (in a Brut Nature style). Crunchy red berry fruit builds in the glass alongside cherry pit and French pastry nuances, leading to a bright, saline-acid finish. The palate is frothy and airy, with a lifted, easy-going charm.
Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this spent 42 months en tirage and was disgorged on September 4, 2024. Whole clusters were gently pressed and fermented slowly and coolly over five weeks, then aged in tank for nine months before bottling. The result is a sparkling wine with a gorgeously frothy, creamy mousse and elegant red berry fruit. Medium-bodied, bright, and expressive, it finishes with a fantastic rush of saline minerality that adds precision and lift to all that supple texture and energy.
This wonderfully well-knit and expressive Pinot Noir from the iconic Fiddlestix Vineyard is bright, juicy, and lifted, with savory deep forest pine accents. Gentle tannins frame notes of salted dark chocolate and ironstone minerality, carrying through a spicy, medium-bodied finish.

“Colluvial” refers to the rugged, rocky soil found in the world’s great vineyards, and this savory-spiced Pinot Noir certainly reflects that terroir-driven intensity. At this stage of development, the wine leans into its earthier side: notes of black tea, tobacco leaf, sage, and spearmint take the lead, while the once-vivid red berry fruit has mellowed into something subtler and more contemplative—like the woody pit of a cherry or apricot, with just a whisper of its former juiciness. There’s a convergence of mineral tension and spice here that feels deeply grounded, quietly seductive. If I’m being honest, this is my favorite moment in a wine’s life—when it sheds its youthful brightness and enters a more soulful, savory phase. Enjoy this now and over the next 4-7 years.

From the Drum Canyon Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, this 2021 Pinot Noir carries a graceful, almost ephemeral quality. Delicate red berry fruit and warm spice tones lead the way, lifted by subtle cedarwood nuances. The palate is medium-bodied, framed by chunky, textural tannins that gradually soften into notes of fig, crushed cocoa nibs, and tangy apricot.

A blend of Mt. Eden and Swan clones, this is the second release from the Heritage Block. These clones yield very little, says winemaker Kale Anderson. He loves the Mt. Eden clone in particular, noting that it takes time to evolve because of its perfumed character. The wine shows gorgeous violet and rose-petal aromas—white rose and purple-blue violets—supported by a firm spine of generous acidity and wonderful black-tea notes, bergamot, and orange peel. Delicate cherry and raspberry fruit carry through alongside rich baking spice, white pepper, smoked paprika, loamy earth, and a wet-stone minerality on the finish. A beautifully constructed wine with the structure and detail to age for many years.

This wine is wonderfully rich and layered, with lovely textures drawn from each of the sites that feed into the blend. The Middle Reach Vineyard contributes Pommard, Vosne-Romanée, Swan, and Mt. Eden clones, while additional fruit comes from Starr Ridge, El Diablo, and the estate Vineyard Eleven. Winemaker Kale Anderson harvests at night, bringing the fruit into the winery cold and fermenting in open-top tanks. He uses as much whole cluster as the vintage allows, gives the fruit a five-day cold soak, then ferments fairly warm with a combination of punchdowns before pressing at dryness to barrel for malolactic fermentation. The wine ages 11 months in roughly 25% new French oak before bottling. The result is bright, crunchy red fruit layered with clove and warm spice. The purity of the fruit really comes through, building richness across the palate with strawberry and raspberry tones, touches of leather, tobacco, and blood orange, and a thread of brown baking spices that linger on the finish. Velvety, satiny textures frame this wonderfully tasty wine, which is considered the entry-level offering.

In 2021, this marked the first year the estate produced this wine. The fruit is wonderfully bright, pure, and crunchy, with lifted white-pepper aromatics and a burst of rose-petal fragrance. It builds across the palate with juicy blood-orange acidity and perfectly integrated cocoa-powder tannins. The blend is 49% UV-VR clone, 34% Pommard, and 17% Swan. It’s an absolutely fabulous wine—the kind you want to enjoy throughout an entire meal for its bright acidity and tension supporting such beautifully pure fruit. Aged 11 months in roughly one-third new French oak.

A blend of owner Jeff Bedrosian’s two favorite clones, Pommard and Swan. I love the concentration and freshness here—it’s packed with lush fruit and velvety textures, and it’s absolutely delicious on its own, full-flavored and generous. The wine was aged 11 months in 37% new French oak before bottling. The name refers to the two clones and the forces they represent: Pommard, with its darker fruit and earth-driven depth, and Swan, which brings a more feminine profile of spice and brighter fruit tones. Think of them as yin and yang. They complement each other beautifully in this blend, which shows lovely high-toned spice and that wonderful Pommard richness on the palate. I’d happily drink this on its own, but it would also pair well with braised meats or a salad scattered with pomegranate seeds to echo its juicy, earthy pop.

Blood oranges, tart cranberries, oak, cinnamon, black cherries, camphor, and fresh green herbs… this red is packing a lot of complexity and elegance on the nose. In the mouth, it shows impressive, savory meatiness, while never once losing its edgy freshness. Aged 15 months on the lees (with 40% new French oak), with just 578 cases made. – J.R.

From Hitching Post founders Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley—who’ve been at it since 1979—comes this 2021 Pinot Noir, a lovely, easy-drinking, and beautifully balanced wine from the renowned Fiddlestix Vineyard. It’s juicy and expressive, with velvet-textured tannins framing ripe cherry and blackberry fruit. Accents of fine cedar and bright acidity lend freshness and lift to the medium-bodied palate, which resolves in a smooth, satisfying finish.

You can’t miss this wine in a lineup—it proudly sports a bright green Sideways 20-Year Anniversary sticker across the top. If you know the film and the original book by author Rex Pickett, you already understand the significance. If not, pause here, Google Sideways, then return—better yet, read my Decanter article, “A Drink With: Rex Pickett,” for the full story. As for the wine itself, it’s a juicy, delicious, and highly drinkable Pinot Noir with soft, supple tannins and plump, ripe black cherry and plum fruit. A bone-dry finish is laced with brown baking spices and cedarwood accents. Enjoy it with a well-salted ribeye—or solo while rewatching Paul Giamatti’s now-iconic Pinot-fueled unraveling performance.

This is the first Pinot Noir Innumero has produced from Bacigalupi Vineyard, made entirely from Wente Clone. Fermented in stainless steel, then pressed to barrel and aged in 50% new French oak. The nose is wonderfully alluring — candied cherry fruit, warm baking spices, blood orange, and cocoa-powder notes — all building into a medium- to full-bodied palate. Excellent fruit weight and depth, with dark-berry richness, spice, a touch of leather, and loamy earth. A nicely complex and thoroughly delicious Pinot Noir.

Cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, and grapefruit zest lead the aromatic profile, accented by clove and fresh cherry blossoms. A hint of bergamot emerges on the palate, which is more structured, with firm and robust tannins that resolve beautifully. Chalky minerality and elegant cedarwood notes frame the wine, highlighting its brilliant purity of fruit and spice. Balanced textures and fabulous energy make this a striking and vibrant expression. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that this Pinot Noir is a blend of older plantings and newer vines established in 2018. Grapes are mostly destemmed, though select lots are fermented with whole clusters for blending flexibility. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, with individual blocks vinified separately. After a short cold soak, native fermentations begin, accompanied by a regimen of pumpovers and punchdowns. Following primary fermentation, an extended maceration of up to 28 days builds mouthfeel, mid-palate weight, and structure. The wine is gently pressed, with primarily free-run juice selected for the final blend. It is aged in roughly one-third new French oak for up to 18 months before blending and bottling.

A touch more elegant and delicate, this Pinot Noir reveals savory notes of black tea and bergamot, with Earl Grey–like tannins framing the medium-bodied palate. Fabulous orange peel nuances carry through, supported by a long, spicy finish that highlights the character of the clone. Refined and beautifully detailed. Winemaker Brian Gruber explains that this Pinot Noir is a blend of older plantings and newer vines established in 2018. Grapes are mostly destemmed, though select lots are fermented with whole clusters for blending flexibility. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, with individual blocks vinified separately. After a short cold soak, native fermentations begin, accompanied by a regimen of pumpovers and punchdowns. Following primary fermentation, an extended maceration of up to 28 days builds mouthfeel, mid-palate weight, and structure. The wine is gently pressed, with primarily free-run juice selected for the final blend. It is aged in roughly one-third new French oak for up to 18 months before blending and bottling.

So characteristic of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, this Pinot brims with warm raspberry compote and candied cherry fruit, wrapped around a beautifully creamy, dense mid-palate. Sumptuous toasty oak, flinty minerals and crisp acid tension give it shape and lift. Fermented 100% destemmed in small fermenters and punched down twice daily. Barrel-aged for 10 months in French oak (35% new).

This is a muscular, savory Pinot Noir that delivers high-toned aromas of violets, charcuterie, black olive, and herbes de Provence. Firm, powerful tannins provide a solid framework, gradually melting into a core of blood orange acidity and white pepper nuances.

This 100% Pinot Noir from the organically farmed Wild King Vineyard is composed entirely of Clone 114. Fermented in open-top vats and aged in neutral oak, only two barrels were produced. The nose is lifted and spicy, with aromas of rose petal, rose stem, and black cherry. On the medium-bodied palate, sinewy tannins take center stage, giving the wine a firm, structured edge. It finishes with impressive energy and a clean, chalky minerality that lingers.

This Pinot Noir from Iaon Pohlit, sourced from the Sta. Rita Hills, beautifully lives up to its name—Ocean & Earth—with ripe cherry fruit layered over loamy earth and salty sea spray nuances. Aromatic notes of espresso bean, clove, and rose petal add depth and allure. Mineral-rich, granular tannins frame the medium-bodied palate, building to a lingering finish marked by smoked paprika and savory spice. Delish!

This Pinot Noir was aged on the lees for 17 months in 50% new French oak. Classic Bing cherry and spiced plum leap from the glass, joined by toasty cherry wood and dark chocolate, accented with subtle, crunchy currant fruit. Warm baking spices abound in this gracefully textured wine, which glides across every corner of the palate all too easily.

This Pinot Noir is in its perfect drinking window, having evolved beyond bright red cherry fruit into more savory territory—think red currant, tobacco leaf, and black tea–like tannins. All of that builds on the medium-bodied palate, layered with crunchy currant fruit, espresso bean nuances, bay laurel, and sage, leading to a long, satisfying, smoky-savor finish. If you’re drawn to Pinot in its secondary and tertiary phase, this one’s for you. I highly recommend enjoying it over the course of a meal—ideally, a couple of bottles at a time—now through 2030.

The 38-acre El Jabali Vineyard—pronounced “el hob-a-lee” and Spanish for “Wild Boar”—is divided into five unique blocks, each with varying slopes and aspects shaped by Pacific Ocean breezes. The 2022 release is one of the most approachable Alma Rosa wines in recent vintages, offering heady aromas of perfumed rose petals, coffee bean spice, and cherry cola. Soft, supple, and silky dark berry fruit envelops the medium-bodied palate, packed with rich toasty oak and layers of baking spices that carry through a long, ironstone-mineral finish.

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This wild pét-nat has been thoughtfully disgorged—so it won’t erupt and ruin your dress, but it will give you a reason to jump up and down with excitement (just set the bottle down first before showing off your joie de vivre). The mousse is bright, airy, and creamy, delivering terrific texture along with red berry fruit, baking spices, and a savory wild herb finish. Bone dry, with great acid grip.
Little Boot Vineyard sits not far from Bootlegger’s Hill and spans about 7 acres. It’s also a source for Patz & Hall. Planted entirely to Calera Clone, the fruit is fermented in stainless steel, with some whole cluster, and aged 12 months in roughly 50% new French oak. The wine is super expressive, with crunchy red-berry fruit and vivid Chinese five-spice. Terrifically cool and precise, showing crunchy cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate-seed character alongside loamy earth notes and a graphite-like minerality on the zesty blood-orange finish.

Made by Adam Lee of Siduri fame, this wine comes from Bucher Vineyard in the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley. It builds beautifully in the glass with vivid red fruits—raspberry and macerated cherry—alongside elegant cedarwood notes and smoky mineral nuances. Crunchy, apple-skin tannins provide attractive grip on the palate, revealing flashes of blood orange. A creamy mid-palate core makes the wine especially inviting. This is a complete, polished, and exceptionally well-built wine.

Calesa Vineyard, Clone 115 — a Petaluma Gap site perched on a high plateau with northwest-facing slopes and soils flecked with gravel and quartz. This Pinot shows lovely black-tea and white-pepper notes, cherry fruit, and smoky minerality, with a luscious core that’s deeply saline-driven. Sage, green tobacco, and clove add complexity, all wrapped in zesty mineral tension. Full-bodied and richly textured, with black-tea tones shaping the tannins and a lingering, layered finish.

A half-and-half blend of Pommard and Clone 777 from Bacigalupi Vineyard. The nose leans fairly savory, with a heady dose of cedarwood spice and white pepper. There’s plenty of tannin grip and texture, with juicy fruit on the palate that — for me — could be a touch riper, but for those who prefer a leaner, more focused Pinot with cool wet–river–rock character, this will hit the spot.

Sourced entirely from Clone 667 on a steep, north-facing hillside at Peake Ranch. Fermented with 20% whole clusters and aged 16 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This is a wonderfully lush, dark-cherry-fruited Pinot Noir underscored by rich brown baking spices. The dark fruit and spice sit beautifully on the mid-palate, lifted by grapefruit peel, fine cedarwood accents, a touch of earth, and espresso bean on the finish. Totally crushable. Peake Ranch is also a fruit source for Migration and Cornerstone.

A lip-smacking, deeply flavorful Pinot Noir that builds beautifully in the glass with high-toned rose petal florals, ripe cherry, cherrywood smoke, and clove, all coming together seamlessly on a creamy palate. It finishes with a fine thread of cool wet slate and salinity, driven by vibrant tension and energy. Quite delicious. This 100% Pinot Noir is barrel-aged for 11 months in 30% new French oak and is primarily composed of Pommard and Wädenswil 2A clones. Owner and Winemaker Erik Miller founded Kokomo Winery in 2004 (named after his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana). Miller partnered with fourth generation grower Randy Peters to craft wines from the Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys.

A powerhouse wine from a challenging Burgundy vintage. It shows tremendous concentration of red berry fruit alongside red earth, iron and loamy earth tones, with deep, woodsy spice. Perfumed rose-petal notes flood the mid-palate, while firm yet inviting apple-skin tannins frame the structure. The finish brings juicy richness and an elegant lift. Overall, this is a very charming wine and a lovely expression of Beaune Premier Cru—offering that upfront Kosta Browne–style generosity balanced by true Premier Cru tension.

A captivating nose of ripe cherry fruit, sagebrush, rosemary, thyme and lifted rosemary florals, with a touch of cocoa powder for added depth. The palate delivers excellent mid-palate concentration, with powdery, supple tannins—like the jelly of a doughnut, no holes here—sumptuous and fully filled out. Fermented in a mix of stainless steel, concrete and neutral oak with 6% whole cluster, then aged 16 months in 37% new French oak.

For readers familiar with the Three Sticks expression of Gap’s Crown, this bottling shows the other side of the flavor coin. It’s a more focused, tension-driven take on the site—less fleshy, more mineral-layered and crunchy-fruited, yet still thoroughly delicious. A creamy core remains, with panna cotta–like vanilla notes, but here it’s framed by harmonious wet-stone minerality and that signature redwood-grove and clove spice. It hits all the classic Gap’s Crown markers, but with restraint and precision. Really impressive—and quite fabulous.

This wine is framed by a beautifully balanced expression of fruit, spice and warmth. The mid-palate shows generous weight and plushness, enlivened by salty sea-spray notes and a wet-river-stone minerality. Hints of rose stem and rose petal lift the aromatics, while the palate offers cherry-pie spice and a touch of tension, feeling slightly coiled at this youthful stage. Excellent length, excellent tension—one to enjoy from 2027 onward.

One of the bolder, more concentrated wines in the 2023 lineup I tasted with Julien Howsepian in December 2025. It shows multidimensional acid tension that gives the wine excellent grip. Generous brown baking spices and darker fruit lend a muscular profile, while notes of dried rose petals and rosemary essence add aromatic lift. The tannins are polished and persistent on the finish.

Fermented in a mix of stainless steel, concrete and oak, then aged 17 months in 40% new French oak, a combination of wood cask, foudre and stainless steel, and blended just before bottling. This is a beautifully elegant wine with subtle brown spices and violets, showing pure cherry and strawberry fruit. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins, it supports all that ripe fruit, which turns darker-toned with an understated youthful poise. The length is tremendous, carrying brown baking-spice character along with candied ginger, smoked paprika and cocoa nibs on the finish.

A wonderful balance of power and elegance, showing savory notes of pine forest, saddle leather, black sea salt and redwood bark. Firm tannins and saline acidity frame the core, while violets, plum spice, vanilla and warm brown spices add lift and complexity. Rich conifer tones linger in the glass, joined by more leather and scorched earth. Pristine, expressive and power-driven.

Sourced entirely from Pisoni Vineyard and fermented in stainless steel and concrete with 8% whole cluster, then aged 14 months in 38% new French oak. This 2023 release is an absolute powerhouse, bursting with blue-fruit intensity, blackberry and sagebrush notes, and velvety tannins dusted with cocoa powder. Loamy earth adds depth and grounding. The finish carries impressive length, layered with dried spice, mild Indian spices and a dash of black sea salt.

A robust, full-throttle wine with gorgeous complexity and excellent mineral tension. Elegant mixed-berry fruit comes together with scorched earth and graphite, all supported by firm, confident tannins and expressive saline-tinged acidity. Notes of tangerine peel and grapefruit emerge on the long, woodsy, earthy finish. It hits all the marks right out of the gate and is great fun to drink in its youth, yet it has the structure to age gracefully.

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