Pinot Noir

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 92 Points | Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Pouring a medium ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County is forward in the glass, with bright aromas of preserved cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and red flowers. The palate has lovely energy within a medium-bodied frame, and it has a refreshing feel, with its spices and chalky texture coming through on the finish.

Winemaker Description

An exciting, yet friendly wine, bursting with aromas of fresh, muddled strawberry, bright cherry and pomegranate with hints of forest floor, toasted caramel and five-spice. The flavors combine to create a fruit-driven front palate and very subtle oak influence. The finish leaves you wanting more, with nice acid and flavors of strawberry sauce, pomegranate and spice to create great weight for an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself.

Winemaker Description 

Established in 1978, Kistler Vineyards stands as a pioneer in the realm of Californian winemaking, guided by the vision of founders Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler. Their belief that exceptional wines of site could thrive in California laid the foundation for a four-decade journey marked by dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Kistler’s Pinot Noirs are come from two heritage selections originating from a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy. Both clones contribute to the richness and complexity of the wines. The approach in the vineyard emphasizes low yields, small berries, and a delicate touch to let the individual site characteristics shine through.

Aromas of wild cherries, pepper, spice and earthy floral notes in the 2023 Russian River Pinot Noir lead to a rich, medium-bodied palate of red and black fruits with excellent depth of flavor, elegant balance and a deceptively long lasting finish.

• 100% Pinot Noir
• Heritage Kistler Clones
• Redder soils banded with gravel from the Sebastopol soil series along the Gravenstein Ridge
• Hand harvested at night
• 100% destemmed
• Fermented in open top fermenters
• Only free run juice is collected from the tanks, with no pressing
• Aged 10 months in barrel and racked once to tank
• Bottled unfined and unfiltered

Winemaker Description

The beautiful dark ruby saturated color hints to the lushness of the wine to come, and the nose confirms this impression, popping with a berry bowl of both bright and darker fruit. Boysenberry, cherry, and blueberry dance over sandalwood and baking spice bottom notes, while a scent of purple flowers adds a pretty touch. Plush and supple berry compote juicy goodness takes you through to the lingering finish.

This crowd-pleaser Pinot will be happy accompanying fish to fowl, along with savory side dishes that include mushrooms or earthy roasted root vegetables. An aged Gouda makes the perfect cheese match.

Expert Review

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | This silky, fruity and refined wine shows great balance between generous red cherry, raspberry and dark plum flavors, and refreshing acidity and moderate tannins. It’s poised to drink soon but OK to allow it to mature further. 

Expert Reviews - 2022

James Sucklling 92 Points | Absurdly concentrated for an entry-level wine. Deep blueberry and black-cherry fruit fills out the compact and structured medium-bodied palate. Generous fine tannins and notes of licorice and baking-spice aromas. Long, powdery and fresh finish. This is a unique solera-type blend of several vintages from 2022 to 2012. Blaufrankisch plus pinot noir, merlot and zweigelt. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

Winemaker Description

The house brand red is a blend of Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir, which is matured in large used wooden barrels. The Zweigelt brings fruit and charm, the Pinot Noir juiciness and the Blaufränkisch character and structure.

The Blaufränkisch also dominates the nose with dark aromas, ripe black cherries and plums, some eucalyptus and a slight smokiness of bacon. On the palate it starts fresh and animating, a fine and mellow tannin spreads directly on the tongue, again cherry and fine tannins.

The house brand stands for fresh drinking fun and goes well with stews and autumnal cuisine, for example with pumpkin.

Winemaker Description

Peay Vineyards is a first-generation family winery. Husband and wife, Nick Peay & Vanessa Wong, grow and make the wine and brother, Andy Peay, and his wife Ami, sell the wine and run the business.

All wines are made from grapes grown on our 53-acre estate vineyard located above a river gorge in the far northwestern corner of the Sonoma Coast, 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean at Sea Ranch. We sit in the chilly inversion layer with fog and wind from the Ocean maintaining cool temperatures with plenty of sunlight.

Winemaker Vanessa Wong left her position as winemaker at Peter Michael Winery in 2001 to launch Peay Vineyards. Formerly she worked at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Domaine Jean Gros and Hirsch Winery.

We farm organically and maintain our licenses for fish friendly farming and integrated pest management. The health of our vineyard dictates these approaches to farming and making wine. We also run on bio-diesel at the vineyard and solar power at both the vineyard and winery.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Ama is dark ruby, with notes of red cherry and apple skin. The palate is full-bodied and has great structure, with a broad texture, ripe tannins and notes of dark cherry, tea leaf, and forest earth. It’s long on the palate and has a good finish. (2021). 

Robert Parker 94 Points | The 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Ama is powerful and perfumed this vintage. It offers aromas broody aromas of red and black cherries and aniseed with top notes of saline and citrus peel. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with generous berry fruit and floral accents, and it has a long, spicy finish. (2021). 

Drawing upon a rich history dating back to 1688, the Ruhlmann-Schutz family's profound connection to wine runs deep in the Alsatian vineyard. Balancing tradition and modernity, the Ruhlmann-Schutz family uses a blend of old oak barrels and state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. With a deep respect for biodiversity and the environment, they skillfully craft wines that showcase the authentic character of their vineyard.

This sparkling Crémant d'Alsace Rosé is crafted exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes, resulting in a dry and elegant wine. A lively fizz and fine bubbles characterize this Crémant, creating an enjoyable tasting experience. Winemaker Description. 

Intensely flavored with a long finish, our Pinot Noir is elegantly balanced and filled with lush fruit flavors, complemented by subtle hints of toasted wood.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

The Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | The 2023 growing season in Santa Maria Valley AVA began with cooler temperatures and average rainfall, which led to a slightly delayed budbreak. A warm spell in February and March accelerated vine growth, but cooler conditions and frost events in April reduced yields. From late April to August, consistent warm days and cool nights promoted optimal ripening, with veraison completing by the end of August.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points | A dense and old-school pinot noir, as it should be, with dried strawberries, cedar and spice as well as hints of chocolate. Full and layered. Solid tannins. Drink or hold.

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Earthy aromas of toasted wood and coffee meet with dusty boysenberry on the nose of this bottling from the historic producer in its eponymous appellation. The palate is rich with baked berry and spicy in star anise and clove flavors, as oak hits on the finish.

The Tasting Panel 93 Points | From the Chalone bench of the Gavilan Mountains at 1,800 feet elevation, this red is earthy and taut, with black cherry, cigar leaf, red tea, and beets. Energetic acidity accompanies chalky minerality

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Estate Pinot Noir reveals aromas of cherry, strawberry, leather, truffle, forest floor, plum, and cinnamon. The medium-bodied palate is a beautiful representation of the varietal and the Chalone AVA. Opulent flavors of plum, bright red cherries, and strawberry are complemented by notes of toasty oak, hints of vanilla and spices, and supported by medium acidity.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 95 Points | Some blue fruit with iron and lavender character. Very perfumed. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a bright finish. Linear and tight. Hibiscus at the end. A blend of declassified barrels from the single-vineyard wines. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The ripe ruby-colored 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley saw the small addition of about 10% whole cluster. The nose opens to a just gorgeous perfume of red and blue fruit as well as fresh violets and cherry candies. Very tasty indeed, the palate is inviting and medium-bodied, and it has a supple, silky texture, with a long, fresh, pure finish. This inviting red is going to have a wide drinking window over the next 6-8 years.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a blend of fruit from Arista’s seven vineyard-designate wines. It has pretty aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, licorice and turned earth. The medium-bodied palate offers layered, spicy flavors structured by finely astringent tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, fragrant finish. 

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Bright and punchy, offering energetic pomegranate, cherry and loganberry fruit infused with sassafras and hibiscus notes, while fresh and slightly high-pitched acidity gives the finish a racy edge. Drink now through 2031.

Winemaker Description 

The core principle of the winemaking philosophy at Arista is to capture and express the true character and potential of each vineyard. They work with a very carefully chosen handful of grand-cru level Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, and are uncompromising in their efforts to maximize the full potential of the wines crafted from these special sites.

The 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir blends several vineyards from across the storied Russian River appellation, which makes it a prime snapshot of our home region as a whole in each vintage. In 2021, conditions for Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley were exceptional, leading to deeply colored, intensely aromatic, wonderfully vibrant wines.

This ruby-hued wine shows classic Pinot Noir aromas of black plum, tart cherry, and cola. Across the palate, similar ripe fruit notes are abundant and buttressed by the tangy acidity. The firm tannins, which are a hallmark of the 2021 vintage, round out the long finish on this quintessential Sonoma Pinot Noir.

Winemaker Description 

On the nose the wine shows spice, violets, vanilla and dark cherry. The palate is rich and full with red and dark cherry alongside hints of smoke, and spice.

Made from a blend of four Marlborough vineyards Quarters, Andahlane, Kennedys Road and including the Huia home block, this wine boasts a beguiling richness with notes of alpine strawberries, dark cherry, violets, cranberries, cinnamon, clove, hay and roasted hazelnuts on the nose with juicy acidity beautifully balanced with the generous notes of toasted oak, cherry pie, strawberries, wild thyme, marjoram, cacao and Chinese 5 spice on the palate. 

Best decanted an hour prior to enjoying. 

Winemaker Description 

A bountiful wine, the Vireton bursts with familiar fragrances and lasting flavor. Abundant spice dominates the nose with lush, ripe raspberries and dark chocolate. On the palate, there are generous notes of earth, caramel, and chocolate. The wine is equally giving on the tail end, delivering juicy red fruit backed by a light but balancing acidity. It all combines to offer a lengthy, memorable finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Wine Spectator 90 Points | This has nice, subtle energy, with rippling rooibos tea, blood orange and red currant notes that meld steadily through a savory finish. 

Bart Hopkins | The beautiful Anderson Valley of Mendocino County is home to some of California’s best Pinot Noir. I look at it as a stylistic bridge between Russian River-Sonoma Coast and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The fruit leans more to the darker spectrum with earthy complexity and a spicy character. The 2020 Husch Estate Pinot Noir is an exceptional example of what makes Anderson Valley special. Aromas of cherry and strawberry mingle with shades of violet, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Well balanced and harmonious with smooth tannins and lifted acidity that brings focus to the fruit on the long flavorful finish.
Winemaker Description

Winemaker's Description

Lush and powerful, the 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir showcases this valley’s great fruit. The wine presents vivid aromas of amarena cherry, marionberry, lilac, and baking spices. Subtle notes of rhubarb, currant, rosemary, and earth add depth and complexity. Lively and youthful, the wine delivers excellent balance, purity of fruit, and sustained richness with a velvety texture, and it is sure to develop beautifully in the cellar.

This dinner table classic pairs exceptionally with coq au vin, mushroom ravioli, roasted pecans and walnuts, grilled vegetables, or creamy cheeses. 

Winemaker Description

This exquisite blend of grapes, stemming from four different harvests, showcases its strong personality through a symphony of fruits and a full-bodied, elegant presence. Singular in its expression of terroir, a revelation of the variety that nature offers from one year to the next.

Réserve Rosé evokes romance and harmony. The initial nose reveals fresh red fruits with a touch of brioche. The first sensation is reminiscent of biting into a perfectly ripe Morello cherry, bursting with full and mature aromas. Powerful, yet remarkably subtle with an extraordinarily long-lasting finish.

Winemaker Description

Black cherry, cacao, and pomegranate with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins.

Handcrafted from high-quality vineyards in California’s coastal regions — from Monterey and San Benito in the central coast, to Suisun Valley in the north. The diversity in soil and climate from these AVAs contribute to this wine’s remarkable balance and depth of character. Grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness and then destemmed in order to express bright fruit flavors and maintain freshness.

The Pinot Project Pinot Noir offers notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and cacao with a smooth, lingering finish. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins.

Expert Review

Vinous 95 Points | The 2017 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru has an expressive bouquet that is a dead ringer for a Dujac, conveying plenty of energy and earthy black fruit laced with undergrowth and sea cave scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and quite a firm backbone. Fresh from the start to the refreshing, elegant, saline finish that gets the saliva flowing. Excellent."

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Tonya Pitts of The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This wine is deep, rich, with aromas of boysenberry, Bing cherry, violets, and notes of toasty oak on the nose. The flavors on the palate are strawberry-cherry coulis, Blood orange peel, dark chocolate shavings, interwoven with clove, and a dry finish.

Winemaker Description 

This wine opens with inviting aromas of strawberry, cherry and clove. Hues of red roses and ruby jewel tones fill the glass.  On the palate, this is a soft, fruit-forward wine with plush tannins and flavors of ripe plum and black cherry. Just a touch of new French oak lends texture and helps frame the bright red fruit that radiates from this wine.

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

Château de Maltroye’s Chassagne Montrachet Rouge Boudriotte 2021 is a delightful red wine spilling forth with a bouquet of red and dark berries (blackberry, cherry, raspberry), complemented by subtle earthy and floral hints like violet, and a touch of spice from oak aging. Elegant and medium-bodied, its tannings are finely integrated, with a lingering finish. Seductive and delicious.

Our Professional Review 

Alain Burguet insisted on farming organically almost twenty years before Ecocert was created to certify organic farming. His sons, Jean-Luc and Eric have taken it a step further, converting all their vineyards to Biodynamic farming. The Cuvee Symphonie is made from a range of several vineyards 40 to 50 years old. Fermentation is with natural yeasts with no additives, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration and very little sulfur. Juicy raspberry aromas on the nose with bright fruit, sweet supple tannins and spice complexity on the long and lovely finish. Bart Hopkins

Winemaker Description 

A blend of 70% Pinot Noir from 1974 plantings and 30% Gamay from vines dating back to 1953. The vineyard sits just outside Volnay, and it shows—there’s a refined, earthy edge that echoes the structure and elegance of that more famous neighbor.

On the nose, the wine leads with bright red cherry and plum, joined by subtle notes of underbrush, leather, and a touch of spice. The fruit is vivid but not glossy—on the palate, juicy red berries give way to hints of forest floor and dried herbs. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points | Sweet and silky, this is a very charming Chambolle-Musigny village wine with a lot of floral finesse, the warm, powdery tannins deftly supporting the long, polished finish. From vineyards below the Bonnes Mares grand cru with red soil. Matured in small oak barrels, but none of them were new.

Winemaker Description 

Georges Lignier owns a prime 0.71ha parcel of 70-year vines that cuts across the “Les Drazey” and “Les Bussieres” vineyards in Chambolle-Musigny, just below the 1er Cru “Les Sentiers”.  The finesse of this wine speaks of the Chambolle pedigree, though its ideal location and ancient vines produce a depth that elevates it to a level beyond what one would expect from a Villages.

Winemaker Description 

A wine full of charm: bright ruby color and a nose rich with aromas of red fruit (raspberry, red currants, wild strawberry). On the palate, the wine is pleasant, fruity and refreshing, with light tannins and great elegance.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | Adelsheim’s single vineyards were planted in the early 2000s on very steep slopes at 485 to 625 feet elevation. The bright red 2022 Pinot Noir Boulder Bluff Vineyard has a fruity and floral profile with notes of candied raspberries, pressed flowers, sweet herbs, and fresh soil. It takes on more tension on the palate, with finely coiled tannins, juicy, ripe fruit, mouthwatering, fresh acidity, and a long feel throughout the finish. It’s focused and has a good, compact, yet elegant feel. Drink 2025-2037.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Boulder Bluff is supple and inviting. Matured for 10 months in 33% new French oak, it opens with wafts of iodine and woodsmoke that give way to wild berry fruit and accents of rose petal and tangerine. Medium-bodied, it offers layer after layer of red fruit, citrus and spice. It’s structured by finely chalky tannins and mouthwatering acidity and has a long, layered finish.