Category: Pinot Noir

Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Pinot Noir

94
Martinborough Vineyard
Fanciful Name: Home Block
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2014
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Appellation: Martinborough
Retail Price: $65

Tasting Notes: Bright, medium-dark ruby in the glass. The nose and palate exhibit great intensity, with complexity and balance. A wonderful example of New Zealand winemaking.
Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Pinot Noir

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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

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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

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EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir

95
EnRoute
Fanciful Name: Les Pommiers
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Retail Price: $67

Tasting Notes: Deep ruby throughout the glass. The nose is comprised of dark berry, with a touch of sour cherry, and spice. The palate has good weight and wonderful balance.
EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir

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Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Pinot Noir

95
Nicolas Potel
Fanciful Name: Bourgogne
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Bourgogne Rouge
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: An excellent example of real Burgundy that dispels the myth that Bourgogne is always expensive. The light ruby color is eye-catching. There is a bouquet of rose petal, wild red fruit, and “la garrigue.” Flavors of not-quite-ripe cherry and raspberry balance with subtle hints of allspice and minerality. The finish is lengthy with supple tannins and sweet/tart acidity. The wine is nice now, but will develop for 2-3 more years. It’s a great value!
Nicolas Potel Bourgogne Pinot Noir

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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

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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

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Calista The Coast Range Pinot Noir

95
Calista
Fanciful Name: The Coast Range
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2013
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $22.99

Tasting Notes: The grapes are sourced from Sonoma, Mendocino and Monterey Counties, three great AVAs for pinot noir. The wine is fermented in small open-top fermenters and the cap is punched down twice daily. The wine is then aged in French barriques, 30% new, for 14 months. Stylistically, it’s quite “Burgundian,” with a pretty ruby color. Floral and red fruit aromas harmonize with hints of yeast and lightly toasted oak. Lovely flavors of cherry, strawberry and sweet spice gently coat the palate and finish with nuances of coffee and terroir that balance and linger with soft tannins and bright acidity. This is a very classy, complex wine that is approachable now and which will pair with many cuisines.
Calista The Coast Range Pinot Noir

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Soter Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir

96
Soter
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Yamhill Carlton District
Retail Price: $80

Tasting Notes: Serious, intensely structured pinot that needs some time in the bottle. Full bodied — balanced acidity. Layers and layers of spice, herbs, cedar and blueberries. Decant first or cellar for a year or two.
Soter Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir

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Fable Pinot Meunier 2016

96
Fable
Varietal: Pinot Meunier
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: California
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Retail Price: $19.99

Tasting Notes: There’s not much of this grape produced as a varietal and this one is quite a treat! In Russian River Valley, the grapes are grown on the Dommen Vineyard, which is composed of deep, dusty red earth; the terroir shows nicely. The wine is vinified in a “Burgundian” fashion, with partial whole-cluster fermentation and indigenous yeasts. It is then left on its lees in neutral French oak barrels for 11 months. The color is a lovely bluish purple. There are intriguing aromas of dark fruit, sweet spice, mocha and a hint of orange zest. Flavors of baked cherry, cinnamon/ginger, coffee and mocha harmonize beautifully with supple tannins and bright acidity. This is very interesting and delightful wine that will complement lamb, game, duck, or mild curries. It’s also nicely priced.
Fable Pinot Meunier 2016

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Samuel Robert Pinot Noir Willamette 2015

89
Samuel Robert
Fanciful Name: Willamette
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Oregon
Retail Price: $15

Tasting Notes: Red cherry, cranberry, smoky undertones engage the senses. Fresh flavors of cherry and raspberry excited the palate. Elegantly finished with delicate acidity. The quality of 2015 vintage is present in this wine.
Samuel Robert Pinot Noir Willamette 2015

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River Road Pinot Noir RRV Reserve 2016

90
River Road
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $20

Tasting Notes: Red currant, cherry and cranberry stimulate the palate. The clean fruit flavors pair elegantly with a supple tannin and a touch of oak.
River Road Pinot Noir RRV Reserve 2016

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