Talley Vineyards Rincon

95
Talley Vineyards
Fanciful Name: Rincon
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $45

Tasting Notes: Perfect combo of minerality and butter. Rich, silky, elegant with a super-long finish. Aromas are like a field of wildflowers. A true treat.
Talley Vineyards Rincon

Darioush Chardonnay

95
Darioush
Varietal: Chardonnay
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $49.99

Tasting Notes: The mouthfeel and depth of flavor are the first things that make you pause after the first sip. You are then hit with rich butterscotch, a slight pop of apple and then a silky buttery finish. 
Darioush Chardonnay

Sanford Rose of Pinot Noir Pinot Noir 2016

93
Sanford
Fanciful Name: Rose of Pinot Noir
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Sta Rita Hills
Retail Price: $28.99

Tasting Notes: Sourced from two of their better estate vineyards, this is an elegant rosé. Beautiful color balances the subtle summer fruit, balanced with zesty acidity, and a subtle hint of muted oak and minerality.
Sanford Rose of Pinot Noir Pinot Noir 2016

Brancott Estate Letter Series Pinot Noir

94
Brancott Estate
Fanciful Name: Letter Series
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Appellation: Marlborough
Retail Price: $32

Tasting Notes: Intense Ruby red, with purple notes. Lots of spicy black fruit on the nose, followed by a palate dominated by more of the same spice notes, and dark fruit. Great texture and a balanced finish make for a complete and well-produced wine.
Brancott Estate Letter Series Pinot Noir

Domaine Loubejac Selection de Barriques Pinot Noir

93
Domaine Loubejac
Fanciful Name: Selection de Barriques
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley
Retail Price: $27.99

Tasting Notes: Attractive nose with lively scents of wild raspberry, black cherry and herbal notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity. While restrained at first, it is very intense toward the finish.
Domaine Loubejac Selection de Barriques Pinot Noir

Bouchard Père & Fils Pinot Noir

93
Bouchard Père & Fils
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Côte de Beaune Villages
Retail Price: $30

Tasting Notes: Wonderfully Burgundian. Lighter in color in the glass, with bright ruby through and through. Elegance and delicacy are the perfect descriptors for both the nose and palate. A lovely example of why many people feel that Burgundy is the home of pinot noir.
Bouchard Père & Fils Pinot Noir

Joseph Drouhin Pinot Noir

93
Joseph Drouhin
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Chorey-Les-Beaune
Retail Price: $29

Tasting Notes: The areas around the town of Beaune are justly famous for their elegance and sense of terroir. This is a prime example of Beaune character. Medium-bright ruby throughout the glass. Plenty of dark-berry fruit are exhibited on the nose and palate. Good acidity keeps everything in balance. Lovely now, with lots of potential for aging.
Joseph Drouhin Pinot Noir

Résonance Pinot Noir

94
Résonance
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Yamhill Carlton District
Retail Price: $45

Tasting Notes: French winemaking and excellent Oregon terroir (Willamette Valley) come together with this delicious wine. Bright, medium ruby, edge-to-edge. The nose is dominated by bright fruit, with elegant notes of floral and spice components. This profile follows through on the palate with balance and length.
Résonance Pinot Noir

TULI Sonoma Pinot Noir

94
TULI Sonoma
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Sonoma County
Retail Price: $29.99

Tasting Notes: A beautiful wine that strikes you with plenty of black cherry, black currant fruit and a light-to-moderate tannin. This rich Sonoma pinot noir is packed with incredible power while being deep, full-bodied and spicy.
TULI Sonoma Pinot Noir

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

95
Gary Farrell
Fanciful Name: Russian River Selection
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Retail Price: $45

Tasting Notes: Deep and bright ruby in the glass. The nose is complex, with notes of bright red fruit, and a touch of herbs. In the mouth, this exceptional wine possesses lots of complexity, with more bright fruit, herbs and a touch of floral notes. The balancing acidity adds to the complexity and quality. Outstanding.
Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

Miro Pinot Noir 2014

95
Miro
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Anderson Valley
Retail Price: $29.99

Tasting Notes: In Anderson Valley, the cool-climate Conzelman Vineyard yields great pinot noir from three different clones. Winemaker Miro Tcholakov selected this vineyard to produce a big, rich style. Whole clusters are fermented with whole individual berries and inoculated for malolactic richness. The wine is then aged in 20% new French barriques for 14 months. The color is a deep red/blue — gorgeous! Aromas of ripe red fruit, lilac, toasty oak and spices abound. On the palate, you’ll taste ripe cherry, raspberry, allspice, and a hint of Mandarin along with a hint of vanilla. The finish is long with a perfect balance of supple tannins and sweet/tart acidity. This is simply great Pinot Noir!
Miro Pinot Noir 2014

Taken Napa Valley Red 2013

90
Taken
Varietal: Blend
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $35.99

Tasting Notes: This red blend is such an incredible wine for the money. Perfect for your friends or family that like your big cellar wines, yet won’t break your bank. Flavors of blackberry and plum are surrounded by the gentle balance of tannin and acidity.
Taken Napa Valley Red 2013