Organic/Bio There’s something joyfully incongruous about a bearded outdoors guy who wears flannel, farms his vineyard with horses, chickens, sheep, geese and (his own) children, and waxes on passionately about the quality... Read More
Organic/Bio The edges of Antiquum Farm’s “Big Field” vineyard are kind of the far edge of what Pinot Noir can do. The winemaking is simple enough – fully de-stemmed fruit, open top fermenters, a bit of... Read More
One of the longest-running high-quality “value” Pinots we know of. As Robert Parker said of the 2013 edition: An authentic tasting Pinot Noir that sells for a song. Aromas of sweet red and black cherry fruit intermixed... Read More
Brick & Mortar is really a California sparkling house, meaning they grow a lot of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. When Pinot gets a bit too ripe for fizz, it’s perfect for elegant, pure, juicy still wines like this... Read More
Organic/Bio Only 1er Cru for white since 2001, Sous Fretille is on the limestone rich and south-facing lower slopes of a hill next to Corton. Made all in barrel (25% new), it’s a lovely, almost delicate, expression of white... Read More
Organic/BioLower ABV Wow, is this ever good, especially coming from the hills up above the Cotes de Beaune. From a small vineyard with cool clay soils, Jerome and Elizabeth Billard captured brilliant ripeness in the form of sweet... Read More
From vines north of Sancerre, this is mostly Pinot Noir with a splash of Gamay and while calling it a charming Bistro Pinot is accurate, it undersells the quality here by a fair bit. The cherry and mulberry fruit flavors are dark... Read More
Organic/BioLower ABV Heinrich Hartl III is best known for his very serious, structured, Pinot Noirs from top sites on the wooded ridge stretching southward from Vienna’s suburbs. This is his daily-drinking Pinot, done with... Read More
Look, the label is a gimmick and if it got you to look, it worked! But once you're beyond that, this delivers a solid and very salmon-friendly Oregon Pinot Noir experience. It's nicely ripe with plenty of dark cherry,... Read More
Lower ABV An exceptionally drinkable and authentic Bourgogne Rouge that - unusually - is priced to drink and enjoy as well! From a well-exposed, clay-limestone, vineyard in the Hauts Cote de Beane, it delivers a perfect blend... Read More
Organic/Bio
Although winemaker Jim Anderson hates to write tasting notes, his take on the 2023 Reserve is too good to not share! The 2023 Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot Noir is, as always, a great indicator of what to expect... Read More
This wine is stupid good. The blend of ripeness, finesse, purity and flavor intensity would be expected in a great $50 Pinot Noir. For less than half that, the value here is nuts. As Vinous says in their 90 point write-up, this... Read More
Lower ABV Former head winemaker at Morgan, today Samuel Louis Smith is crafting brilliant wines from some of the highest, coolest, vineyards on the Central Coast. This is from a vineyard planted by Chalone head winemaker Michael... Read More
Considerably more than the “Bourgogne Rouge” Mark Vlossak had in mind when he first created this wine! In 2023 it’s a blend of fruit from Shea, Temperance Hill and Freedom Hill plus the first pick from his new... Read More
Lower ABV The name here has a great double meaning. “La Combe Vert” can mean “The Green Valley,” a nice description off the lovely vineyards in the Eola Hills where Ken and Erica live and make wine. But... Read More
The oldest winery in McMinnville – founded 1983 – turns out a classic Willamette Valley Pinot in 2022. The Wine Enthusiast 92 point review of the previous vintage tells you want to expect: “Yamhill Valley's... Read More
