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Banshee Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2023 750ml

Banshee is one of Sonoma County's most exciting Pinot Noir producers — a winery built on the belief that the best wines from Sonoma are yet to be made, and determined to produce some of them. Sourcing from a carefully curated network of cool-climate vineyards across the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Anderson Valley, Banshee pursues Pinot that achieves power without weight — transparent, site-driven, and alive with the flavors of the coast: forest floor, pine, tea, spice, and minerals alongside the fruit.

The 2023 Sonoma County Pinot Noir is generous, layered, and immediately appealing — an excellent food wine that is equally charming on its own. Bright, medium-bodied, and bursting with red and dark fruit, it delivers real complexity for the price and confirms why Banshee has earned such a devoted following.

"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." — James Suckling, 92 pts

• Producer: Banshee Wines, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Appellation: Sonoma County AVA
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Medium-bodied, elegant, cool-climate California Pinot Noir
• Tasting Notes: Strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, dark cherry, blackberry, violets, forest floor, five-spice, toasted caramel, graphite, bright acidity
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, salmon, mushroom dishes, grilled lamb chops, or brie

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.

Wine Spectator — 90 Points
A pretty red, with a steady beam of raspberry and cherry coulis flecked with red tea and savory. The streamlined finish shows a late tug of red licorice.

Site-driven Sonoma Pinot Noir that over-delivers at every price — Banshee is the kind of bottle you open on a Tuesday and finish before dinner is over.

Winemaker Description

The 2024 vintage in the Willamette Valley was a winemaker’s dream — cool, well-paced, and ideal for Elk Cove’s six estate vineyard sites: The Winery Estate, Mount Richmond, Five Mountain, Clay Court, Goodrich, and Windhill. A longer harvest window of 40 days allowed each block to receive optimal attention, yielding concentrated, fruit-forward wines with great complexity. The winery considers 2024 a potential classic Willamette Valley vintage.

Made from 100% estate-grown fruit spanning all three major Willamette Valley soil types, with both Pommard and Dijon clones represented. Each vineyard block is fermented separately in small, temperature-controlled steel tanks, hand punched down twice daily, then aged 10 months in French oak before careful blending. The result is Elk Cove’s most approachable, well-balanced Pinot Noir — fresh fruit, well-integrated alcohol, and great concentration of flavor.

Pairing Suggestions

• Poultry: Roasted duck with cherry sauce, herb-roasted chicken, or turkey with mushroom gravy.
• Meat: Lamb chops with rosemary, pork tenderloin with berry reduction, or salmon with pinot beurre blanc.
• Cheese: Aged Gruyère, Willamette Valley Brie, or a mild Oregon chevre.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Eric Guido writes:  Delicate and understated, the 2022 Pinot Noir Grande Cuvée opens with a peppery citrus tinge and dusty dried strawberries. It's round and softly textured with pure red berry fruits riding a wave of brisk acidity. An herbal tinge comes forward over time as gently grippy tannins tug at the cheeks and hints of licorice fade.  Drinking 2025 to 2030.  - Vinous 91

Audrey Frick writes:  Medium ruby red-hued, the 2022 Pinot Noir Grande Cuvee is expressive and elegant on the nose, with notes of red cherries, candied cranberries, roses, fresh spice and herbs, and lifted piney herbs. Medium-bodied, it has a weightless, linear feel, with fine tannins, even acidity, and a clean, tapered finish with a light herbal note. It’s a very charming wine to drink over the next 5-6 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91 

James Suckling writes:  Lemon zest, mushrooms, raspberries and sliced strawberries on the nose. Some rose petal, too. It’s bright and fruity, with a medium body and powdery tannins. Chalky, grainy elements at the end. Better in 2024.  - James Suckling 90

Clive Pursehouse writes:  An early released wine blended from estate sites within the McMinnville and Yamhill-Carlton AVAs. Earthen aromatics of sous bois, moss, and turned garden soils are lifted by a note of bright berries. Ripe raspberry, pomegranate and savoury sumac predominate the palate and are buoyed by mint and wild fennel notes.  Drinking 2023 to 2029.  - Decanter 92

Winemaker Description 

The Grande Cuvée Pinot Noir is made from a collection of family-owned vineyards across the Willamette Valley. This wine has a welcoming nose of cedar-spiced mulberries, hints of garden herb, and candied orange rind.

Discover Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Redolent of cinnamon, Bing cherry and sarsaparilla on the nose, this Pinot gains depth, purity and focus as it hits the palate. Flavors of dried raspberries, fried shiitake mushrooms, fresh mint and pithy tangerine peel along a seamless and vibrant finish.

Winemaker Description 

This blend is comprised of primarily Bob's Ranch, with Gap's Crown and select grower partners throughout Sonoma rounding out the blend.

The wine has a true Sonoma Coast character—deep, earthy aromatics; concentration and depth on the palate; with bright fruit and supple tannin on the finish. 

We utilized whole cluster in this vintage to help accentuate the unique character of each site, and we are very pleased with the resulting wine.

Memo Summary Notes

A Unique Expression of Pinot Noir

Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir showcases the true essence of Sonoma Coast, offering a unique expression of this beloved grape. When you open a bottle, you'll immediately notice the vibrant ruby color, hinting at the rich flavors inside. This wine is crafted with love and precision, representing the delicate balance between fruitiness and acidity. The primary flavors include cherries, raspberries, and subtle hints of vanilla and spice, making it a delightful choice for both casual sipping and special occasions.

A Perfect Pairing for Every Meal

This Pinot Noir is incredibly versatile, which means it pairs well with a variety of dishes. Whether you are enjoying a cozy dinner at home or hosting a party, Walt La Brisa complements everything from grilled salmon to roasted chicken. It enhances the flavors of hearty meals but is equally delightful with lighter fare, such as salads and pasta. Furthermore, its smooth tannins and balanced acidity make it approachable for all wine lovers, no matter their experience level.

Quality You Can Trust

When you choose Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir, you are investing in quality and craftsmanship. The grapes are sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in Sonoma Coast, where the unique terroir imparts distinctive characteristics to the wine. Each bottle reflects the commitment to excellence that Walt Wines is known for, ensuring a premium experience. Additionally, the 2023 vintage has received recognition from various wine critics, certifying its quality and appeal.

Winemaker Description

Since its 175th anniversary, Pol Roger has decided to offer a very limited range of older vintages from its iconic cuvées. After the original disgorgement, these bottles were then returned to the famously deep and cool Pol Roger cellars for additional extended maturation where they have rested undisturbed until their release. Not only do these bottles have a label, cap and collar based on a historic Pol Roger design, they also have been dressed by hand and arrive in an elegant wooden box.

The Sir Winston Churchill Cuvée was created in 1975 as a tribute to the "Old Lion", using the qualities he appreciated in champagne : robustness, structure and maturity. Whilst its exact composition is a secret guarded by family members, it is undeniable that it is based on a formula of which its dedicatee would have approved : "My tastes are simple, I am easily satisfied with the best". Made exclusively with grapes from the Grands Crus of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay already in production during the Churchill era, this cuvée is only produced in the very best vintages.

The predominance of Pinot Noir unquestionably ensures structure, fullness and robustness, while Chardonnay lends elegance, finesse and freshness. Produced in limited quantities, this cuvée has matured for 10 years prior to disgorgement.

Bottle Size: 750ml | Region: Champagne, France

French wheat vodka at a price that makes it easy to stock generously. Pinnacle starts with select wheat grain from the Brie region — the same fertile corner of northern France known for its exceptional terroir — five-times distilled to 190 proof, then carefully filtered through charcoal before being brought down to 80 proof with naturally filtered water from northern France. The result is a clean, smooth, and genuinely versatile spirit: neutral enough to disappear into a cocktail, refined enough to sip over ice. The 1.0L format makes it a smart buy for home bars and entertaining alike.

• Base: Wheat grain (Brie region, France)
• Distillation: 5x distilled
• Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
• Format: 1.0L
• Country: France

Serving Suggestions

Perfect in martinis, vodka sodas, Moscow mules, or any cocktail where clean spirit is the foundation. Excellent chilled and served neat.

Stellenbosch Cabernet from South Africa's Most Trailblazing Winemaker

Ntsiki Biyela is one of South Africa's most celebrated winemakers — the first Black woman to earn a winemaking degree in South Africa, and the founder of Aslina Wines, named in honor of her grandmother. Her Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of genuine character: bold, structured, and deeply expressive of the Cape's finest red wine appellation.

Winemaker Notes

Aslina Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch Natural 2023 750ml

Full-bodied with hints of minty character, cigar box, and lots of dark fruit. Bold on the palate with chewy tannins and a long, satisfying finish.

About Ntsiki Biyela

Growing up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal, Ntsiki was awarded a scholarship to study winemaking in 1999 and graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) from Stellenbosch University. She has since consulted in Bordeaux, collaborated with Californian winemakers, and sits on the board of the Pinotage Youth Development Academy — which provides technical training and personal development for young South Africans entering the wine industry.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Appellation: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
• Producer: Aslina Wines
• Winemaker: Ntsiki Biyela
• Vintage: 2023
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural match for grilled ribeye, braised lamb, venison, aged hard cheeses, and Cape Malay-spiced dishes.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 Cuvée brings together a variety of Pinot Noir blocks from the 42-acre Domaine Lumineux vineyard, showcasing the full spectrum of the estate. Heavy rains in the early summer of 2021 impacted pollination in the vineyard and resulted in a very light fruit crop. This was followed by record setting heat and extreme dry conditions throughout the summer, which proved to be beneficial for optimal grape ripening. The combination of low yield and ample warmth produced wines of exceptional balance, intensity, and grace in the Willamette Valley. This ideal harvest yielded outstanding Pinot Noir fruit that came together harmoniously in this blend.

A select blend of our distinct pinot noir clones, the 2021 Cuvée is a multidimensional, harmonious, expression of the Domaine Lumineux Dundee Hills vineyard. This wine exhibits opulent aromas of spice, featuring hints of anise, nutmeg, and earthy forest floor. The savory palate is accompanied by concentrated red fruit notes, intermingled with dried fig. The 2021 Cuvée boasts a complex structure, with intriguing notes of black pepper lending an alluring mouthfeel and a prolonged finish.

Winemaker Description 

Warehouse stored item - please allow three to five business days to fulfill.

LFG represents the moment that Josh and Drew decided to take a leap into the world of Oregon Pinot Noir with the beautiful Estate Coulee vineyard as the backbone of their program.

ABOUT COULEE ESTATE (EOLA-AMITY HILLS AVA)

Our new estate vineyard in Eola-Amity Hills is extremely exciting. We were fortunate to be able to acquire this piece of land in 2021 from Mimi Casteel who took such great care of the earth and vines in her inspiring practice of regenerative farming.

The site itself has such a diverse array of aspects, soil types, and clonal selection that
we are ecstatic to get to know the site and make our estate grown, single vineyard
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.

Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 750ml

Maison Louis Latour is one of Burgundy's oldest and most respected family-run négociants, with roots going back to 1797. Their Bourgogne Pinot Noir is the quintessential entry point into the red wines of Burgundy — a wine that delivers the elegance, perfume, and terroir-driven character of the region without the price of a Village or Premier Cru. Sourced from vineyards across the Burgundy appellation, it is crafted to express the true nature of Pinot Noir: light, fragrant, and deeply satisfying.

The 2023 vintage is a standout — bright, fresh, and beautifully balanced, with the kind of supple texture and harmonious finish that makes it equally at home at a weeknight dinner or a special occasion table.

"With its deep, bright ruby hue, our Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023 reveals an elegant bouquet of red fruits and licorice, lifted by a hint of spice. The palate is round and well-balanced, marked by freshness and a supple texture, expressing notes of blackcurrant and licorice that linger through a harmonious finish." — Louis Latour Winemaker

• Producer: Maison Louis Latour, Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Appellation: Bourgogne AOC
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Light-bodied, elegant, fruit-forward Burgundy red
• Tasting Notes: Red fruits, blackcurrant, licorice, spice, supple texture, harmonious finish
• Best Paired With: Roast chicken or turkey, veal, Boeuf Bourguignon, Délice de Bourgogne, semi-aged Comté, grilled meats, mature cheeses

The perfect gateway to red Burgundy — Louis Latour's Bourgogne Pinot Noir is the bottle that turns first-timers into lifelong Burgundy lovers.

Winemaker Description 

With plenty of lovely, rich tannins, this Pinot offers up flavors of dark red fruit, subtle oak and nutmeg-clove spice.

Winemaker Description 

Bright nose of fresh cranberry and red raspberry mixed with spice notes of white pepper and earthen floor. The brightness carries through to the palate, filled with flavors of pomegranate mixed with a panoply of red fruits, spices, white pepper and a subtle crisp minerality.

The mouth-feel integrates earthiness with the fresh fruit and fine tannins in the mid palate.  The finish is long and rich, revealing silky tannins combined with emerging cherry, gentle minerality, lustrous acidity and white pepper.

Winemaker Description 

The Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from throughout Shea Vineyard, one of the most iconic vineyards in Oregon. Careful vineyard practices and restrained winemaking allow each vintage to reveal its uniqueness. The 2022 vintage finished warm and dry, allowing the fruit to achieve full ripeness and the Estate to reflect the big, concentrated style Shea Vineyard is known for.

"All Shea wines are 100% estate grown; most are single block/single clone selections. This blends grapes from the entire estate, offering a unique glimpse of the overall terroir. I’ve reviewed wines from this iconic vineyard for over two decades, and followed the estate wines almost since their first vintage. There is a special excellence that carries into Shea designates made by almost any winery. But in wines made by the estate itself there is a focus and specificity that is exceptional. Why this particular piece of land is so special is a question I’ve wondered about for years. The block and clone selections are all complete wines in and of themselves, but this estate blend captures the fullness of the whole site with black fruits, expressive oak (one third new), clean earth, barrel spice and exceptional depth." - 96 points, Paul Gregutt's Northwest Wine Guide

"This wine opens with an alluring bouquet of red and black cherries, Blood orange, walnut shells, and a hint of rosemary. The palate is supple and refined, with a medium body and a lively mouthfeel that keeps it moving and refreshing. As the wine unfolds, a subtle dried herb undertone emerges, adding an extra layer of complexity to the finish." - 94 points, International Wine Report

"Attractive nose with sour cherries, dried orange peel and dried herbs. So delicate and pure, with a medium body and zesty, tangy mouthfeel. It has a fresh, minty undertone at the end." - 93 points, jamessuckling.com

Discover the Globetrotter's Choice: Trotamundos Pinot Noir

Our Professional Review

The Trotamundos wines are the brainchild of two winemaker friends, César Baeza and Miguel Besoain. The term “Trotamundos” translates to “globetrotter,” and their winemaking philosophy centers on creating wines with a global perspective, incorporating what they have learned while traveling throughout the wine world to craft unique expressions.

I recently tasted the Trotamundos Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Leyda Valley 2023 and was extremely pleased with its quality and value. This is a Pinot Noir that delivers exceptional drinkability without compromising quality. Sourced from the cool climate of Chile’s Leyda Valley, it showcases bright aromas and flavors of wild red berries—raspberries and strawberries—with a subtle hint of blue fruit as well.

On the palate, the wine is well structured, with vibrant red berry fruit, well-integrated acidity, and mild tannins that lead to effortless drinkability. A stony minerality adds depth and naturally complements the fruit profile. The finish is clean and refreshing, with bright, palate-cleansing acidity.

This wine is very food-friendly. I suggest pairing it with Latin-inspired dishes, grilled skirt steak, or crab-stuffed cannelloni.

Oscar Garcia Moncada

Winemaker Description 

Light-red color with a slight orange tint. Raspberries and cream on the nose, smooth in the mouth with a burst of juicy mixed berries, blood orange, and a tangy aftertaste.

Memo Summary Notes

The Trotamundos Pinot Noir Single Vineyard 2023 is a cool-climate red from Chile’s Leyda Valley, a region highly regarded for producing elegant, coastal-influenced wines. This particular label is a collaboration between winemakers César Baeza and Miguel Besoaín.

The Leyda Valley is situated just 12km from the Pacific Ocean. The 2023 season benefited from the Humboldt Current, which provides cool sea breezes and morning mists. This ensures a slow ripening process, allowing the Pinot Noir grapes to maintain high natural acidity and develop complex aromatic profiles

This wine’s balance of fruit and earthiness makes it quite versatile:

• Poultry: Roasted chicken with herbs de Provence or duck breast.

• Vegetarian: Mushroom risotto or earthy lentil stews.

• Seafood: Grilled salmon or seared tuna, thanks to its bright acidity.

An Exquisite Pinot Noir Experience

Trotamundos Pinot Noir Single Vineyard DO Leyda Valley 2023 is a true masterpiece for wine enthusiasts and globetrotters alike. With its vibrant ruby color and enticing aromas of red berries, this wine captures the essence of its origin. The Leyda Valley is known for its unique climate, which allows the grapes to thrive, resulting in a wine that is both refreshing and complex. So, if you're looking to indulge your palate, this Pinot Noir should be at the top of your list.

A Perfect Pairing for Every Meal

This elegant red wine is not just for special occasions; it can enhance any meal. Whether you’re enjoying a grilled salmon or a mushroom risotto, Trotamundos Pinot Noir complements a variety of dishes, making it a versatile choice for your dining table. Its well-balanced acidity and smooth finish make it easy to drink and enjoy. Therefore, keep a bottle handy for your future culinary adventures!

Embrace Your Inner Globetrotter

With each sip of Trotamundos Pinot Noir, you journey to the beautiful landscapes of the Leyda Valley. This wine is crafted for those who appreciate quality and seek to explore different flavors. It invites you to embrace your inner globetrotter, allowing you to discover new experiences from the comfort of your home. Because of its rich flavor profile and exceptional quality, this Pinot Noir is sure to impress your friends and family, making every gathering memorable.