Pinot Noir

Country: US / Rosé of Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Merriam / Russian River Valley Pink-orange in color, this is a tangy, high-acid wine that’s not for everyone, given its bracing mix of tangerine and grapefruit. Light-bodied, yet textured, it’s a good quaffer and food-friendly companion.

Country: US / Theresa Noelle Estate Proprietor’s Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Summerland / Sta. Rita Hills Much lighter than the winery’s other bottling of this level, this wine shows cranberry, light olive and the slightest hint of eucalyptus on the nose. Cranberry, black pepper, pencil lead and earth show on the palate, which […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: A to Z / Oregon Quite possibly this has the largest production of any single Oregon Pinot Noir, which makes the quality even more impressive. A bit in the vein of a Beaujolais, this offers Gamay-like flavors of red berry and wild cherry. It’s broadly fruity and […]

Country: France / Le Bois de Lalier Variety: Pinot Noir Burgundy Winery: Château de Santenay / Mercurey With big holdings in the appellation, the Château de Santenay produces a range of wines. This single-vineyard bottling is typically rich and rounded. It cushions the tannins with ripe fruit and gentle acidity. Developing well, the wine will […]

Country: US / Spring Hill Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Landmark / Sonoma Coast Give this Pinot two or three years in the cellar, and it could go a bit longer than that. In youth, it’s tight in acidity, and the sweet oak and raspberry fruit flavors haven’t come together yet. It shows a […]

Country: US / La Encantada Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Fontes & Phillips / Sta. Rita Hills This is the real deal, as they say, a fine, intricate Pinot Noir. The vineyard is famous for producing complex wines, and the winemaker has vinified the grapes well, resulting in a dry, silky wine. Waves of […]

Country: US / Soberanes Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Testarossa / Santa Lucia Highlands Here’s one of Testarossa’s more forward Pinots from the 2011 vintage, but that appeal is deceptive. It’s rich and ripe in raspberry, strawberry and cola flavors, with an apparent sweetness that belies the dry finish. The acidity is adequate, giving […]

Country: Chile / Gran Reserva Variety: Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley Winery: Morandé / After initial horsy aromas of saddle, earth and roasted berry settle, there’s oak and a chemical note to the palate, which also delivers herbal, tart flavors of raspberry and green plum. This is lean and citrusy on the finish.

Country: US / Yamhill Cuvée Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Domaine Serene / Willamette Valley Sometimes in a challenging vintage such as 2009, it is the least expensive, blended wines that benefit most, perhaps because grapes normally destined for the single-vineyard wines are redirected. Here, rich fruit flavors highlighted with streaks of caramel and toffee […]

Country: US / Selleck Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Calera / Mt. Harlan Lots of ripe fruit in this wine, offering rich flavors of raspberries, cherries, persimmons and red plums, with a tart note of cranberry. Tastes fresh, lively, and rather young. Drink over the next six years.

Country: US / Confero Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Aberrant Cellars / Willamette Valley Like its companion, Carpe Noctum, the Confero offers full flavors of cherry and berry, with spice and toast backing. Here the flavors are a touch lighter but perhaps more elegant and detailed, with suggestions of mint and caramel trickling through the […]

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Clos Pepe / Sta. Rita Hills The winemaker rightfully praises this Pinot for having so much fruit at below 14% alcohol. He’s right, but there’s more to great wine than fruit. The wine is massive in cherries, raspberries and currants, but right now that’s about all you […]