OT: vino pinot...noir?

[eddief]

Any pinot noir aficionados out there? Do you have a favorite CA pinot you know and would like to recommend? Special occasion so willing to go to $50 or so.

[RonW87]

Best one I ever had was a Peay. Forget which exact one.

[malcolm]

Saintsbury cerise vinyards. Should come in under $50

[MattTuck]

Does it have to be California?

For me, I'd pick from one of these two.

I cannot attest to the 2014 vintage, but the R. Stuart Weber Block Pinot Noir was selected as the best pinot noir by the wine society that I used to belong to. We tasted everything blind, so pretty unbiased. This was a probably 4 or 5 years ago, but I would atleast consider it, and look into what the current ratings are.

http://store.rstuartandco.com/2014-weber-pinot-noir-p137.aspx



And, also, I cannot attest to the 2013 vintage, but I tasted at Sokol Blosser vineyards a few years ago. They were one of, if not the first, to plant Pinot Noir grapes in Oregon. Big Tree Block was my favorite.

http://cart.bloyal.com/SokolBlosser/ShopOnline/WebStore/WebReds/13TPN/2013_Big_Tree_Block_Pinot_Noir

[fuzzalow]

Hollaran does some great pinot noir, very burgundian if you like powerful french. Not Napa, Willamette Valley Oregon, but I don't see how that would cause you consternation.

If just a great red from Napa is what you want, try to find anything from Lewis Cellars from their more *ahem* cost effective offerings. Lewis doesn't do pinot.

Both of these vineyards are small, boutique outfits but their wines are exceptional and worth the trouble to find & buy.

[Lewis Moon]

For Pinot Lovers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS9ocP6FNvM)

[54ny77]

Here's a name for you: anything (for the most part) from Au Bon Climat out in Santa Maria/Santa Barbara. Do a little quick reading on which ones get best ratings, and go with that. Stellar Pinot Noir, it will not disappoint.

[malcolm]

Meiomi is also very good and should come in way under $50. It's big reminds me more of a merlot, but I really like it. It's a good price point in a restaurant.

[jghall]

More of white wine fan myself, and an under $20-$25 guy, but some of the more expensive ones I've enjoyed were Patz & Hall and J Wilkes. Along with Beck, Vincent Girardin, and Amisfield.

Kept this article a while back. Top Expert Rated Pinot Noir Wines Under $50.

2013 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir Walker Bay
2013 Bodega Chacra Pinot Noir Cincuenta y Cinco
2012 Lucia Vineyards Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyards Santa Lucie Highlands
2012 Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Savoya Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton District
2012 Neely Pinot Noir Upper Picnic Spring Ridge Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains
2009 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve Yamhill-Carlton District

[DAG]

I've enjoyed most of the bottlings that I've tried. They don't have an estate, just an address in an industrial park (which makes for an interesting tasting experience when they're wheeling in tubs of grapes for crushing next door to your swirling), so there's a variety of sources from Oregon to Santa Barbera.
The Russian River and Sonoma Coast bottlings are fairly widely available, and from there it gets vineyard-specific. Most are relatively fruit-forward, but with good balance. I've never had a bad one.

Also, Gary Farrell, but the vineyard-specific bottlings are hard to get ahold of. Handley Cellars 2013 RSM Vineyard Anderson Valley.
Balletto Vineyards usually does very well in the Chronicle and Sonoma County Fair competitions, and they mail-order.

[jimcav]

at the old serotta forum, I was put onto williams-selyem, and put my name on the waiting list. Once the mortgage crisis hit i guess a few folks dropped discretionary wine buying because i got on the list. They do a spring and fall release for purchase and i buy just a few bottles which covers the few occasions we serve or bring wine to family get-togethers, and it keeps me on the "the list". Been doing this many years now and have never had a bad pinot from them, it is all I order from them.

[K u r t]

Any pinot noir aficionados out there? Do you have a favorite CA pinot you know and would like to recommend? Special occasion so willing to go to $50 or so.

Eddie,

You've got some good recommendations here!

I grow grapes & make wine near you - west of Occidental. My winery is called Bohème www.bohemewines.com. I objectively consider our Pinots every bit the equal to our [high quality, local] peers. We've got a tasting room in Occ; would be delighted to taste you through our single vineyard PN's. And take a road ride by 1 or 2 of the vineyards!

(PM if interested)

Some excellent, high-craft Pinot makers in our neighborhood include:

Littorai
Paul Matthew
Dehlinger
Dutton-Goldfield
Joseph Swan

Best luck to you.

[donevwil]

There is such a variety in Pinots that one has to ask, what do you like/want?

My current favorite is anything from MacMurray Estates (http://www.macmurrayestatevineyards.com/wines/russian-river-valley-reserve-pinot-noir), pick you price point. Even the $15 offering at Trader Joes is excellent. A lot of outstanding options from the Russian River or Dry Creek Valleys. For perspective I'm a Zin and Petit Syrah guy. If your preference is Carneros style, I'm not your man. A myriad of options only 10 miles from you front door.

[pdmtong]

California and Oregon pinots reveal a lot of terroir influence.

sonoma coast vs russian river vs santa rita hills vs willamette are all great but very different.

Asking for a $50 wine is like asking for a $3,000 bike. you are going to get the same breadth of opinions.

If you want to increase your budget towards $100, williams-selyem single vineyard, kistler and seasmoke now appear on the list. but, i wouldn't do that unless you have enjoyed a lot of pinot and want to appreciate the nuance difference.

Around $50 I like melville and brewer-Clifton from SRH, and DuMol, Dehlinger and the willkiams-selyem blends from Norcal

[eddief]

as in bikes, i need to start someplace, so will choose one at the lower end and begin to move up. no clue about what i like. don't like tannin.

[josephr]

as in bikes, i need to start someplace, so will choose one at the lower end and begin to move up. no clue about what i like. don't like tannin.

sounds a great plan! need to taste lots of different ones before coming up with the 'right' one!!! :beer:

I'd take up Kurt on his offer to ride/visit his vinyward just for the trip! a bike tour of wine country is a bucket-list item for me.

[eddief]

a 2014 Acacia Carneros $14 on sale at Costco for $10.

and a 2012 MacRostie Sonoma Coast $29 at bevmo.

Both were tasty but quite different. Acacia smooth and fruity. MacRostie seemed lighter but more complex.

Think I will keep experimenting. Seems like even decent YOUNG Pinots are smooth without much tannin?

[eddief]

I will arrange a visit. Maybe just tasting though :).

Eddie,

You've got some good recommendations here!

I grow grapes & make wine near you - west of Occidental. My winery is called Bohème www.bohemewines.com. I objectively consider our Pinots every bit the equal to our [high quality, local] peers. We've got a tasting room in Occ; would be delighted to taste you through our single vineyard PN's. And take a road ride by 1 or 2 of the vineyards!

(PM if interested)

Some excellent, high-craft Pinot makers in our neighborhood include:

Littorai
Paul Matthew
Dehlinger
Dutton-Goldfield
Joseph Swan

Best luck to you.

[Look585]

Calera, from Hollister of all places, is a California Pinot Noir pioneer. Founder Josh Jensen trained (interned?) with DRC in Burgundy in the 70s before hunting for the perfect place to grow Pinot in CA.

http://www.calerawine.com/

[alancw3]

not really a big wine drinker (beer is my poison) but i do have to say that when i drink wine i enjoy pinot noir. that being said the wine i like the most is cavit. a very reasonably priced wine imho..

[donevwil]

I will arrange a visit. Maybe just tasting though :).

I wonder if Kurt would entertain the idea of a Paceline tasting/tour/ride?

[Joxster]

I worked with two vineyards in Burgundy a few years back, I learnt a huge amount in a short space of time. But most of it after lunchtime was forgotten ;)

[ORMojo]

So much to say here, and I would love to, but I'm in a room of about 100 people attempting to craft legislation (and not get derailed by this week's election).

So, not having time to think about specific bottlings (maybe I'll add that later), I'll list some wineries that, IMO, you can't go wrong with at that price point.

Soter
Cristom
Broadley
St. Innocent
Bergstrom
Domaine Drouhin
Ken Wright Cellars

[K u r t]

I wonder if Kurt would entertain the idea of a Paceline tasting/tour/ride?

Fun idea! It'd be an honor to host a Paceline whine ride.

It happens that some of Sonoma's finest wines come from the coast ridges with sublime views & hills/ B roads.

Terrain and wine, food are no-brainers - only question is timing. I'll look at the calendar.

[ontarget]

I like big California pinots. One of my favorite producers is Brian Loring of Loring Wine Co., based in Santa Barbara. He hasn't made a pinot that I haven't very much enjoyed. Prices range from mid-20s to low 50s. You can find him on the web.

Also, I second the previous Au Bon Climat recommendation. Not as "big" a style as Loring, but you can't go wrong with them either.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[donevwil]

Fun idea! It'd be an honor to host a Paceline whine ride.

It happens that some of Sonoma's finest wines come from the coast ridges with sublime views & hills/ B roads.

Terrain and wine, food are no-brainers - only question is timing. I'll look at the calendar.

That sounds awesome. If you'd like any assistance with organization, logistics, transportation, etc. please PM me.

[tctyres]

FYI. Freakonomics did a recent episode on wine tasting: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/expensive-wines-taste-better/

[YesNdeed]

Still finding my wherewithall on Pinot, and reluctant to spend more than $20 on a bottle (vs. big wow factor CA Cabs, especially) But, currently trying a 2014 Moniker, Mendocino pinot. Darker, and more tannic than other Pinots I've tried, not sure that's normal for upscale pinots. Not bad, but more research required. Best sub $20 PN recomendations?

[GuyGadois]

We live in one of the Pinot Noir areas of CA with some very, very good wines. My favorite Pinots are...

Talley Vinyards (Rosemary Vineyard selection) rated 94 by The Bob. https://www.talleyvineyards.com/product/2014-Rosemary-s-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir?pageID=5744811E-CEE5-86D2-00C3-26ABF0FD3E37&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=100&

Latitia Vineyards (good value) - https://shop.laetitiawine.com/shop.ams?LEVEL=BOT&PART=BLAPN0AD14

Sea Smoke Vineyards - Possibly the finest Pinots and very sought after. Extremely hard to get. http://www.seasmoke.com/#wines

Claiborne and Churchill - small, local and high quality pinots. Fairly limited too. http://www.claibornechurchill.com/wines/red-wines.php

[SamIAm]

I would love to clean out some of my cellar. I used to love domestic Pinot, but have since moved to Burgundy.

I have a good bit of what would be considered excellent domestic Pinot and will happily send you a case if you pay for shipping.

[pdmtong]

We live in one of the Pinot Noir areas of CA with some very, very good wines. My favorite Pinots are...

Talley Vinyards (Rosemary Vineyard selection) rated 94 by The Bob. https://www.talleyvineyards.com/product/2014-Rosemary-s-Vineyard-Pinot-Noir?pageID=5744811E-CEE5-86D2-00C3-26ABF0FD3E37&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=100&

Latitia Vineyards (good value) - https://shop.laetitiawine.com/shop.ams?LEVEL=BOT&PART=BLAPN0AD14

Sea Smoke Vineyards - Possibly the finest Pinots and very sought after. Extremely hard to get. http://www.seasmoke.com/#wines

Claiborne and Churchill - small, local and high quality pinots. Fairly limited too. http://www.claibornechurchill.com/wines/red-wines.php

Seasmoke pinot is fantastic BUT it is VERY DIFFERENT from russian river pinots. much more cab like. this nuance is one reason I like pinots...there is a nice breadthg of styles within the varietal.

[SamIAm]

I would love to clean out some of my cellar. I used to love domestic Pinot, but have since moved to Burgundy.

I have a good bit of what would be considered excellent domestic Pinot and will happily send you a case if you pay for shipping.

Sold out, thanks for the inquiries. My favorite domestic producers were/are:

Williams Selyem
Rochioli
Rivers Marie
Joseph Swan
Rhys
Peay
Skewis
Anthill
Marcassin