If you love Pinot Noir you need to watch Episode 19 of One Bottle Each. Greg Morthole and I get geeky about this much loved, and somewhat fickle grape
Viewing entries in
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir and Value don’t intersect as often as one might imagine. There are myriad reasons for this. In short though, it’s a notoriously finicky grape that has too often been planted in the wrong spots, bastardized by having other varieties blended with it, over cropped or over-manipulated. Many who really love this grape would agree that more than most other varieties, genuine Pinot Noir has a real “true north.” Some of the other incredibly widely planted grapes of the world such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and to a degree Cabernet Sauvignon have a broader array of styles acceptable to a purist.
As a result finding examples of Pinot Noir that exhibit genuine character while also providing value is harder than it reasonably should be. This can be particularly true in California which is home to quite a few well known wines labelled as Pinot Noir, that have little in common with the soul of this great grape. Certainly California is home to many outstanding Pinot Noirs as well, but most of those are outside of the everyday drinking category for most.
Here are three that have suggested retail prices of $25 or under and can often be found on store shelves across the United States for under $20.
Cherry Pie 2017 Tri-County Pinot Noir ($23)
A bit of an outlier in this trio in that it’s the only one not from Russian River Valley. Instead the fruit here is a cuvee from the producer’s sources in Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Napa. Red cherry, and strawberry characteristics are evident from the first whiff to the last sip. Along the way wisps of savory herbs and spice are evident as well. Persistent acidity rums the gamut here too. Appealing fruit aromas and flavors plus fine structure makes this an excellent value and a lovely example of the fact that Pinot Noir can be an everyday value when treated properly.
Rodney Strong 2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25)
from the trio of wines this one has been been around the longest and thus has a suitably matching track record of excellence over many years. Rodney Strong is a venerable producer of Sonoma County wines in a large swath of price tiers. Year after year their wines over deliver. The Russian River Valley Pinot is no exception. Currant and red cherry drive the aromatics. The palate shows off tart black cherry and bits of black tea. Hints of graham cracker crust and cocoa are evident on the long, acid rich finish. I’ve been drinking this wine consistently for over a decade, it’s always been an excellent value in the past and that’s still true today.
Raeburn 2019 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($25)
Raeburn Winery has been around for less than a decade, but they’re already leaving an impression. Over the last year of so I’ve sampled several vintages of their Pinot Noir as well as their Chardonnay and Rosé. Each is produced from Russian River fruit, which is evident the moment you taste them. And they’ve all been well crafted and represent solid, or better values. Both in aromatics and flavors this Pinot Noir leans towards dark fruit. Blackberry, raspberry and black currant are all evident. Cinnamon as well as hints of crème fraiche and leather are all evident on the above average finish.
Yes Virginia, you can get well-made Pinot Noir for less than $25.
On Episode 07 of “One Bottle Each,” I’m joined by my friend Gil Kulers. A former New Yorker, now based near Atlanta, Gil is the Maitre D' & Sommelier at Piedmont Driving Club. He’s written about wine for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Golf Digest, among others.
Gil and I dive into demystifying wine as well as the vagaries of Chardonnay styles, among other topics.
In every episode of “One Bottle Each,” my guest and I each select and introduce a wine for us to taste and talk about.
In Episode 07 Gil and I taste and discuss:
Winderlea Vineyard and Winery 2017 Chardonnay Willamette Valley ($45)
Chehalem 2018 Coral Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir Chehalem Mountains ($50)
Katie Santorahas been at Chehalem for 8 years and took over the reins as Head Winemaker a short time after Bill Stoller purchased them. We chatted over Zoom recently and spoke extensively about Chehalem Winery, the Willamette Valley and her journey to date as a Winemaker. We also covered a myriad of other topics such as wine closures and fermentation methodology. Of course we also tasted a selection of Chehalem Wines. Watch it here.
Bottega Vinaia 2017 Estate Bottled Trentino Pinot Noir ($18)
When you’re looking for Pinot Noir, does Italy come to mind? If you’re like a lot of people, probably not. That’s a shame though because the hills of Northern Italy have some fine examples of this legendarily finicky and remarkably popular grape. It also happens, they’re usually really good values.
At $18 this offering from Bottega Vinaia is a stunner. Everything here from the first whiff to the last sip sits in perfect harmony. Droves of red fruits drive the aromatics. They continue on the palate where cherry and cranberry are in strong evidence. Oodles of spice are present too. A dusting of dark cocoa emerges on the finish along with wisps of chicory and leather. This Pint Noir is acid rich and incredibly friendly with a varied feast of foods. I enjoyed it alongside a Porcini Mushroom Porridge topped with shaved Pecorino Romano and it worked perfectly.
If you want to read about more about PInot from Alto Adige, give this story from a coupe years back a read.
I’ve been drinking wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards for around fifteen years now. That’s a small fraction of their history, they were founded in 1959. I keep going back to their wines for a number of reasons. A large swath of their portfolio is widely available, so access to them is easy. They consistently offer well made wines in a variety of price ranges. By and large whether you spend less than $20 or more than $50 on a bottle from Rodney Strong Vineyards, you’re going to get a bit more than you paid for. So yes I love to experiment and try all manner of wines, but when I’m looking for a sure thing, Rodney Strong Vineyards is one of the names I count on.
I recently tasted a couple of current releases that are perfect for warm weather. A small group of writers joined winemaker Justin Seidenfeld on Zoom to talk about Rodney Strong in general and taste these wines.
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Charlotte’s Home Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($17)
I’m fairly certain that this is the Rodney Strong wine I’ve been drinking consistently for the longest time. Along with the Pedroncelli SB t’s one of my two standbys for tremendous value in under $20 Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County. Over time this always delicious wine seems to have gotten a bit more dialed in, and simply better. It opens with a big, rich nose loaded with citrus and bits of yellow melon. The palate is juicy and fresh with Honeydew, lemon ice, and a wisp of guava. The acid rich finish is long, pleasing and mouthwatering.
Rodney Strong Vineyards 2019 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($25)
This is an intentional Rosé made entirely of Pinot Noir. The grapes were grown, harvested and crushed specifically to make this wine, Justin noted that Rosé’s from Provence were his model for this wine and despite the fact that he’s different grapes in another part f the world his intent is the same. This wine is a somewhat recent new one to their portfolio, joining the home team in the last 5 or so years.Wild strawberry an white pepper dot the nose. Red cherry, white peach, tangerine zest and gentle bits of vanilla drive the palate. The finish is crisp, refreshing and simply pleasing. It nearly begs you back to the glass for another sip. This is an excellent example of intentional Rosé.
Another vintage, and more evidence that you can, and should, count on Rodney Strong Vineyards for well made, delicious wines at a fair price. It’s going to be hard to hold on to any of this Rosé as it’s so appealing, but if you can tuck a few bottles away, it’ll make a great wine for Thanksgiving.
While discovering new wines is a lot of fun and certainly very exciting, there’s something to be said for the tried and true. There are those times I’m about to open a bottle of wine and I want the feeling of visiting with an old friend. One of the pleasures of those friendships is they know you, you know them and there’s no real learning curve.
Sometimes it can work that way with wine too. Stoller Family Estate is located in the Dundee Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. They have 225 acres planted, largely to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their portfolio features a handful of wines that see national distribution and quite a few more that are available exclusively though the winery. I just tasted a trio of their wines that are available throughout the country, and as usual with Stoller, there’s a lot to like.
Stoller Family Estate 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Rosé ($28)
9,000 cases of this Rosé, entirely comprised of Pinot Nor, were produced. Aromas of strawberry and orange zest lead things off. The palate shows off continued juicy red fruit, yellow cling peach and bits of cranberry. White tea and a hint of peppercorn emerge on the finish. Zippy acid keeps everything here in check.
Stoller Family Estate 2019 Dundee Hills Chardonnay ($28)
10,000 cases of this, one of several Chardonnays they offer were produced. They use all of the Chardonnay clones grown on their property to produce this wine. The result is a classic example of Willamette Valley Chardonnay. There’s plenty of orchard fruit here in the form of Bartlett Pear and Green Apple. There’s also a vein of bright Meyer lemon that runs through it from the first whiff to the last sip. A gentle core of spices drives the above average finish. This is a great value in Chardonnay at its price point. You should also consider their reserve Chardonnay which I covered in this recent story.
Stoller Family Estate 2018 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($35)
16, 750 cases of this particular Pinot Noir were produced. Just as with the Chardonnay they utilized every Pinot Noir clone on their Estate. As one would expect from a size-able Willamette Valley producer, this is one of a number of distinct Pinots in their portfolio. Ripe wild strawberry and hints of leather drive the aromatics. Black tea, red cherry and bits of earth are evident on the impressive finish. $35 is a friendly price for a well made Pinot Noir that expresses a sense of place.
I’ve tasted these wines over a number of vintages and they’re always worth the money, and then some. They vary of course based on vintage conditions, but that’s the beauty of honest wine.
Matetic Vineyards 2015 EQ Pinot Noir “Granite” ($40)
Matetic’s vineyards sit 6 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. The soils are granite and iron rich. Organic, estate grown grapes were utilized for this wine. It’s composed entirely of Pint Noir. Only Clones 115 and 777 were used. Aging took place in French oak of several sizes for 12 months.
There are a scant few places on earth that offer great bang for the buck in excellent Pinot Noir. As it happens a few that fit the bill are located in Chile. Pinot thrives in cooler climate and most of the very best examples from Chile are from vineyards close to the ocean that are effected by the relative climactic conditions that proximity to water offers. Casablanca Valley is one of those areas.
I’ve been drinking the Matetic wines for about a decade now. What has impressed me each and every time I’ve pulled the cork from one of their offerings probably sounds quite simple. There’s a purity of fruit and expression of place that shines through all of their wines. I say sounds simple, because this isn’t the case as often as I wish it were. I believe that both farming and wine-making practices lead the way to the aforementioned result here. They farm organically, and in the winery they stay as far out of the way as they can to allow the vineyards to shine through. And that they do. From the first whiff that wafts from the glass, red fruit, earth, and subtle spices are evident. Those characteristics are joined by savory herbs on the layered palate. If you’re among those who question mineral notes in a wine, well there’s a treasure trove of them here on the lengthy, persistent finish alongside hints of black tea. This is a striking example of Pinot Noir. At around $40 it represents a steal of a deal. A wine of this quality and purity from a better known Pinot Growing region would easily command $65.
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, located in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley is best known to the average consumer for their two tent-pole Wines; Russian River Valley Cuvee’s of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It stands to reason as these represent a large portion of their overall case production. Not to mention these wines are generally available on store shelves across the country. But if you poke your nose under the hood a bit, you’ll find that there’s a lot more on offer at Gary Farrell Winery.
Last week I participated in a Virtual tasting with Winemaker Theresa Heredia and a handful of other writers over Zoom. We took a deep dive into a selection of their Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs. A few things were readily apparent; their goal is to let the particular site speak, and while they are certainly proud to call the Russian River Valley home and showcase it’s bounty of fruit sources, they’re also invigorated to widen the breadth of Gary Farrell offerings by using fruit well outside its bounds, as they deem worthy.
2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir ($70)
This first wine we tasted is from Santa Maria Valley, the most far flung from Russian River Valley in this lineup. Winemaker Theresa Heredia said she included it both because it’s a personal favorite, and also because she considered it a bit of an outlier. Dark fruit and spice aromas waft with conviction from the glass the moment you pour it. Red cherry flavors, continued spice and wisps of sour black currant are also present. The finish is above average in length.
2016 Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot Noir ($75)
This Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot comes from the vineyard closest to the Pacific Ocean in the Sonoma Coast. Ripe Wild strawberry and bit of gaminess present on the nose. The palate is dotted with a solid core of cranberry. Savory herbs and a long deep, kiss of salinity drive the acid rich finish. In a gathering of Pinot Noir bottles that impressed across the board, this is the one I’d personally reach for most often. The rich acid and vein of salinity knock me out with every sip.
2016 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir ($55)
The first of four wines in the tasting from their home AVA, Russian River Valley. A bowl of ripe red fruit drives the aromatics. The palate is loaded with bright Bing cherry and baking spices. Earth and mineral notes are evident on the long finish. Good structure balances the overall juiciness of this wine which has lots of curb appeal.
2016 Hallberg Vineyard, Dijon Clones Pinot Noir ($60)
Also from the Hallberg Vineyard this wine is limited to a selection of Dijon Clones. It leads with a big, complex nose loaded with floral notes. Sour red fruits, spice and tobacco are strewn through the even-keeled palate. A treasure trove of minerals drive the acid-laden finish.
2016 Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir ($55)
This Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is immensely aromatic with red and black fruit competing for attention. The palate has an elegant muscularity about it with red plum and black raspberry joined by bits of black cherry and a solid core of spices. Earth and black tea are evident on the the lovely finish. As with the other wines there’s a solid vein of acid running through and keeping things proportionate.
2016 Martaella Vineyard Pinot Noir ($65)
The fourth Russian River Valley wine in this group shows off savory aromatics such as bay and thyme alongside violet. Blueberries, blackberries, bit of leather and copious spices are all present. This is a rich wine whose mouthfeel and texture really set it apart. This wine benefited from some air and had really opened up by the second day to express its charms more willingly.
2016 Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir ($80)
Like the last wine, this offering from the Petaluma Gap really benefits from some air. It was tasty on day one, but a bit reticent. On day two it was fully unleashed and ready to party. Everything here is deep, and dark, from the fruit to an undertone of savory herbs and earth. The finish is long, persistent and impressive. The recommendation here is to decant it for at least two hours.
On the one hand these seven offerings are quite distinct, on the other hand they do have a commonality among them; the vineyard and the AVA speak most loudly. These wines represent only some of their Single Vineyard Pinots. In addition to other Single Vineyard Pinot’s their portfolio also includes a range of Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Rosé, Port style wine and more. There’s a lot under that hood I’ve tasted many of their wines over the years and the consistent connective tissue is the balance and proportion of the wines and the integrity of the fruit sources shining through.
If you’ve never been, Gary Farrell Winery is a beautiful and welcoming place to visit and taste some excellent wines. Of course, visiting options are limited these days. As a nod to that, Gary Farrell Winery has put together a wide range of virtual tasting options. They’re designed to get as much of a feel for the winery in your home as possible. These are detailed at and can be booked directly through their website. In any case, if well-made, food loving wines with a sense of place sound like your thing, the Gary Farrell winery is one you’ll want to be familiar with. If it happens that Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay are your jam, the experience might just be heavenly.
It had been too long. since I’d tasted wines from Anaba and I was eager to see if they were as good as I recalled. Anaba Wines is very much a Sonoma County Winery. Most of their wines are produced from purchased fruit, but all sourced locally in Sonoma County. Their focus is on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Rhone varieties.
few things tie this group of wines together. First and most importantly they’re delicious. They’re all appropriate for Spring. Regardless of their price point they represent excellent or better value. And finally with just a couple of exceptions, most of them are widely available on store shelves. All of them can certainly be ordered online, which is where many of us are purchasing our wine these days.
Alto Adige in Northern Italy is a diverse place in a number of ways. Valley floors and mountains provide a variety of influences on vines as do elevations that range from a few hundred feet to several thousand. The region which sits at the intersection of Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany feels the influence of all those countries on
The myriad of wines hitting store shelves on a daily basis can be dizzying. Among them are wines at nearly every possible level of quality and intent. Most important of course is whether the wine is any good. Assuming it is good, does it fit your budget and needs. I just tasted through just more than 4 dozen wines looking for a few good bottles to stand out.
One of the key factors that distinguish New Zealand as a major player in the wine world is diversity. If you travel through the numerous regions, as I did earlier this year, you’ll find myriad examples of unique soil types, elevations, and climactic conditions. Thus each of these regions helps a different collection of grapes thrive. And in the cases where there is overlap in grape types the distinct conditions still lead to diverse results. Villa Maria is a microcosm of that; by growing and sourcing fruit throughout New Zealand, their portfolio showcases the assortment of grapes and wine styles that New Zealand is absolutely nailing, often at bargain prices too. I recently participated in a virtual tasting with Villa Maria and Snooth; here are my thoughts on the handful of wines we sampled.
Villa Maria 2016 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc ($13)
Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand’s most famous export, and for good reason, several regions are perfect for growing it. This offering from Villa Maria is a classic example of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. It has a big nose, good fruit, racy acid, and lots of mineral notes on the finish. At the price it’s a steal of a deal.
Villa Maria 2016 Private Bin Bay Rosé ($14)
The Villa Maria Rosé has a darker hue than average. It’s filled with cheery red fruit, bits of orange rind, white pepper and hints of vanilla. This Rosé is juicy, tasty and it’ll pair with an astounding array of foods. In short it’s an excellent warm weather wine.
Villa Maria 2016 Private Bin Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc ($15)
The Villa Maria Bubbly Sauvignon Blanc is light, refreshing and a perfect summer welcome wine. It’s a wine you don’t have to think much about, yet it has reasonable depth. For the price you could even use it as a cocktail or Sangria base. This is a fun and tasty wine that will make crowds of people happy.
Villa Maria 2014 Cellar Selection Merlot-Cabernet ($20)
This cohesive blend is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Each variety (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec) come together to form a well woven wine. Red berry fruit and bits of thyme are evident on the nose. Black raspberry and cherry dominate the palate along with spice notes. The long finish shows off dried blackberry and bits of chicory.
Villa Maria 2015 Cellar Selection Pinot Noir ($26)
Pinot Noir is Mew Zealand’s second most famous export. While it grows in other regions, the two most famous are Central Otago and Marlborough. Cellar Selection Pinot has a proportionate richness with black cherry, plum and tons of spice.
Villa Maria 2015 Taylor’s Pass Chardonnay ($45)
This Chardonnay is a real knockout from the first whiff to the last sip. Apricot, peach, and golden delicious apple aromas burst from the nose. Green apple, roasted nuts and a drove of minerals are evident on the palate. The long finish shows off crème fraiche and bits of toasty oak. This Chardonnay will benefit from a couple of years of bottle age.
