origin: United States

Straight Shooter Pinot Noir

92
Straight Shooter
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley
Retail Price: $22

Tasting Notes: The aromas of raspberry, strawberry and ripe plum lead into a mouth full of the same, supported by supple tannins and a strong mineral backbone. This is real crowd pleaser that works with loads of dishes, including Asian cuisine.
Straight Shooter Pinot Noir

Print Label

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

Print Label

Coelho Atracao Pinot Noir

93
Coelho
Fanciful Name: Atracao
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Country of Origin: Oregon
Appellation: Willamette Valley
Retail Price: $24.99

Tasting Notes: Lively, and tangy, with raspberry overtones to the strawberry and spice flavors. The fruit-forward palate and bold acidity meld together to create a long finish.
Coelho Atracao Pinot Noir

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

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

Print Label

Bend Merlot 2015

88
Bend
Varietal: Merlot
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: California
Retail Price: $9

Tasting Notes: This wine launches with big flavors of plum and black cherry. The lush fruits are balanced with a long and smooth finish. This is the perfect wine for buyers looking for outstanding value without a hefty price.
Bend Merlot 2015

Print Label

Wine Stars © 2024