Pinot Noir

Country: US / Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Pfendler / Sonoma Coast Rich in black cherry, licorice, mocha and oak flavors, this Pinot is showing its best now. Give it a few hours of decanting and pair with steak, lamb and salmon.

Country: US / Fairview Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Bernardus / Santa Lucia Highlands A good, medium-bodied, dry and silky Pinot Noir, from a vineyard in this well-regarded region in Monterey County. Shows rich cherry, plum and cola flavors, with oaky notes, although there’s an acidic sharpness that cuts through the mouth. Drink now.

Country: US / Durell Vineyard Hayfield Block Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Saxon Brown / Sonoma Coast This tastes soft and simple now, although considering the vineyard sourcing, that could be misleading. There’s a core of raspberry and cherry fruit, with intriguing forest notes of dried pine needles and mushrooms. The acidity is just right, […]

Country: US / Fiddlestix Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Pali / Sta. Rita Hills If you’re sensitive to high alcohol in Pinot Noir, this might not be for you. If you’re not, you’ll probably find the richness impressive. Although it’s technically dry, it seems sweet and delicious like a raspberry tart that’s sprinkled with […]

Country: Chile / Special Reserve Variety: Pinot Noir Leyda Valley Winery: Siegel / This rusty looking PN smells roasted and stewy, with forced oak. In the mouth, this is chunky and flat. Stewy oaky plum flavors run sweet and heavy on clove, while this reverts to creamy on the finish.

Country: Chile / Organic Variety: Pinot Noir Chile Winery: Cono Sur / Granular aromas of latex, plum and animal lead to a choppy piercing high-acid palate. Dilute flavors of generic berry fruits are candied on one hand and tart and weedy on the other.

Country: Chile / Special Release Reserva Variety: Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley Winery: Aresti / Dusty cherry and tomato aromas are neither elegant nor elevated. A jagged palate lacks flow, while this tastes of salty sour plum. A low-depth finish tastes peppery. Overall, this is simply adequate Pinot Noir.

Country: US / Momtazi Family Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir Oregon Winery: Andrew Rich / Willamette Valley This opens with classic Oregon Pinot scents of rose petal and cherry candy. In the mouth the toasty barrel flavors wrap around the juicy fruits —raspberry, cherry and more—with streaks of butterscotch creeping into the succulent finish. It’s pure […]

Country: US / Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Lost Canyon / Russian River Valley Beautiful now, with a lovely texture and delicious flavors, this could even benefit from a couple years in the cellar. The vineyard is very fine, and Lost Canyon has a good track record with it. The […]

Country: France / Variety: Pinot Noir Burgundy Winery: Nuiton-Beaunoy / Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Light colored wine with a touch of smokiness and soft, ripe fruits. It lacks definition, giving an open feeling without much structure. Wood aging gives a burnt character at the end.

Country: US / Woods Vineyard Rosé of Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Ousterhout / Russian River Valley A 100% varietal wine fermented in stainless steel, this is a bright, lively tangle of cherry and orange built around bristling acidity that practically sizzles on the palate. Light-bodied and plenty crisp, it mellows to show length and […]

Country: US / Calliope Vineyard Variety: Pinot Noir California Winery: Moshin / Russian River Valley This wine presents itself initially as having a bold, big body, yet is actually light on its feet as it opens, revealing aromas of cherry liqueur, rhubarb joined with a funk of black licorice and sassafras.