Is this the Best $20 Pinot Noir on the Market?

Ever on the hunt for an outstanding readily available $20 Pinot Noir, this one has somehow managed to fly under the radar after a 92 point rating from James Molesworth at Wine Spectator in September.

What I like about it is how it's readily available for around $20 before discounts, and more balanced and versatile than some of the bruisers coming out of California in this category.

2022 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.7% Alcohol

16,760 Cases Produced

$29 Release Price

Beautiful translucent ruby red in the glass, the somewhat-high alcohol level makes it cling to the glass and provides heft to this otherwise elegant domestic Pinot Noir.

Ripe strawberries and dusty briar patch on the nose giving way to a clean but satisfying palate-flooding experience. No heat to speak of as the finish lingers.

Varietally correct in every way. The only thing standing in the way of true greatness here is the [very] occassional aromatic off note.

91/100 WWP: Oustanding

Wine.com has it for $19.99 (affiliate link) and although they haven't been running the promo codes as reliably lately it's indicative of how affordable this wine can be.

There's even a $24 mail-in rebate available when purchasing 12 bottles.

Prefer a bolder California Pinot Noir? 

See: Five Fruit-Forward Pinot Noirs (besides Meiomi)

Read more...

[Sold Out] Deal: 2018 AldenAlli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir on Last Bottle

Last Bottle has just released what I think is a compelling offer.

2018 AldenAlli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir for $25/btl with free shipping on 6. 

The wine retails for $48/btl and has been reliably outstanding for me over a number of vintages.

If you're new to Last Bottle you can get a $10 credit on your first order through referral.

These offers tend to go quickly - I'll update this post when it sells out.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2020 Martin Ray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

I still think it's harder to find a good $20 bottle of Pinot Noir than a satisfying $12 full-bodied Cabernet (Columbia Crest H3) or Monastrell (Juan Gil).

At around $20 I tend to see Meiomi and similar wines in the domestic Pinot Noir category, and a lot of those are a bit over the top for what some might consider varietally correct.

So I was interested in trying a wine that's gotten some attention recently that's less than $20. Let's get right into it...

2020 Martin Ray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.8% Alcohol

30% opaque with a ruby/magenta hue. It appears light-bodied but like any good California Pinot Noir, it delivers satisfying aromas and flavor.

On the nose, I get fresh ripening fruit, strawberries, and a hint of white pepper.

On entry, it lands with satisfying weight. Low acidity with just a hint of fine silky tannins on the backend. This is a very drinkable wine, devoid of off-notes with broad appeal. Impressive at this price point.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

So here's an interesting puzzler on how to buy this wine...

Wine Access has it for $18. You could buy 7 bottles to get to $126 for free shipping, and that would trigger the $100 Amex Offer. You could also buy $100 eGCs to avoid overshoot. Or if it's your first order you could to $150 for $50 back on your first $150 order through referral.

Wine.com has it for $18.99 in Massachusetts. If you have Stewardship you could get 3 bottles of it for $56.97 and get $20 off $50 with code JOURNEY50 (HT Diego Santos on Wine Berserkers). That seems like a pretty great way to try just a few bottles, or mix it in with some other wines you like to get to $50.

Bottom Line

It's still surprisingly hard to find a solid bottle of Pinot Noir for $20, but this one delivers for less than $20 before discounts. Give it a whirl and see whether this might make it into your rotation?

Read more...

[Sold Out] Amazing Deal on a Legendary California Pinot Noir Producer

NY retailer Zachys has what looks to be a great deal on the 2013 Joseph Swan Greak Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir.

Direct Link

Deals to Stack

• Regular price is $49.99/btl
• If you buy 12+ bottles the price should reduce to $19.99/btl
• Get 20% off with code WeekendSave20
• Shop through a portal for up to 5% back

Unfortunately, there's not an active Amex Offer for Zachys at the moment, and I'm not aware of any free shipping promo codes at the moment. If you're in the Westchester County area or pass through you could save with in-store pickup.

Even with shipping costs on the order of $55 for a case, this is a fabulous deal. I swear Zachys used to charge even more than that for shipping - maybe they made shipping costs a little more realistic lately?

I was saying to a friend the other day that any time I can get a really good bottle of Pinot Noir for around $20 I'm all over it. I've enjoyed Joseph Swan's more affordable "Cuvee de Trois" bottling in the past but the one offered here is a single

It's a little nerve-wracking cracking open the first bottle of a case like this - especially with a little age on it. But I've got enough faith in the producer here to recommend it.

Deal ends March 7, 2022 but I bet they sell out sooner than that.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2015 Varner Los Alamos Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

I cracked another bottle from a recent Wine Access shipment. Let's get right into it..

The write-up:

Vinous founder Antonio Galloni to say their “deep, resonant Pinots remain some of the most compelling wines being made in California.”

Wine Advocate called Varner “one of the stars of the Central Coast,” and this is exactly why.

My thoughts:

 
2015 Varner Los Alamos Vineyard Pinot Noir

13.5% Alcohol
$19/btl before discounts

30% opaque visually, light-medium bodied on the palate.

Fruit on the nose is muted by "rubbery" off notes. Satisfying enough on entry, and on the palate, and while there is some mildly appealing aspects here the wine is haunted by a dour, tired aftertaste.

Disappointing given the prose.

79/100 WWP: Mediocre

They can't all be zingers...

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2017 Etude Fiddlestix Pinot Noir

A new batch of wines arrived from the recent Wine Access Black Friday sale. Many of these are still in stock so I'll likely taste through them and write a post about the good ones, and this is a good one.

After visiting Santa Barbara wine country this summer I was interested in exploring the area more.

I'll admit: I'm a sucker for a good vineyard name. Combined with Etude's elegant label I'm drawn to this bottling.

Add on recent news that the Fiddlestix Vineyard was very recently sold to Tyler winemaker Justin Willett and we've got quite the situation on our hands. Let's get right into it...

2017 Etude Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir

14.1% Alcohol

$50 Release Price

$36 at Wine Access before discounts

35% opaque with an attractive ruby/magenta hue.

Spot on aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and supporting brambly underbrush. Smooth, silky entry with satisfying palate-flooding presence. Silty tannins finish the experience. Not an off note in the glass.

Flavorful, racy, vibrant and luscious.

This is a really nice bottle of California Pinot Noir that more than carries its price.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

The Wine Access Black Friday 20% off deal is over, but there's always another deal around the corner. And there are always promos you may have squirreled away in the past that might still work.

At minimum you can stack it with this $30 off $100 off that's executable three times for 30% off $300 worth of wine.

See: Targeted Amex Offer: $30 back on $100 at Wine Access

Read more...

Deal: 15% Off + 20% Off Vaughn Duffy

Direct Link

Sonoma producer Vaughn Duffy is offering 15% off through November 14th, 2021 plus an additional 20% off for wine club members including newcomers.

Their appelation Pinot Noirs sell for around $40 so we're looking at:

• $40 x 15% off = $34/btl
• $34 x 20% off = $27.20/btl

Shipping varies on distance but at around $3/btl by the case that's $30/btl for some absolutely outstanding Pinot Noir.

I like the way they've structured this deal. Their wines go quickly around here so I can justify joining their wine club for the stackable discount here.

They do produce others varietals and this sale provides a nice way to experiment with those. Read on for more on why Vaughn Duffy is a favorite:

Visit and Tasting Report: Vaughn Duffy Wines

Read more...

Visiting Dragonette Cellars

2019 Dragonette Cellars Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir

We're just back from a road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping in Big Sur and Santa Barbara along the way. Although I've had the pleasure of visiting Napa and Sonoma quite a bit, this was my first opportunity to taste Santa Barbara Country Pinot Noir on-site and in person.

The one tasting appointment I made was at Dragonette Cellars.

I'm not quite sure why it took me so long to discover Dragonette. Wine Spectator has been consistently scoring their wines 90+ for some time.

See: A Stunning Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

Tasting in Santa Barbara County

The wine tasting scene in Santa Barbara County is a bit different than what I'm familiar with in Napa and Sonoma. Some of the best producers, Dragonette included, have tasting rooms co-located in one area (the charming town of Los Olivos) rather than spread about at their respective estate vineyards.

This is undeniably Sideways (2004) country, but I get a sense the region is trying to move on from the notoriety attained by association with the greatest wine movie of all time. Still, I couldn't help but drive past the Hitching Post, The Windmill (now the Sideways Inn), Solvang, and the Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant - sites that were notable in the movie.

A follow-up viewing of the movie is rewarded shortly before or after a visit for sure.

See: Sideways in Santa Barbara

But to get to know Dragonette better, we visited their production facility in Buellton. Located in an industrial area with auto repair shops (their resources are focused on the wine rather than a lavish estate) we met with Director of Hospitality Stephen Graham and Co-Proprietor and Winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis.

Dragonette Director of Hospitality Stephen Graham

About Dragonette Cellars

The Dragonette logo hints at the letters DC (Dragonette Cellars) with a nod to alchemy.

Dragonette Cellars was founded in 2005 by brothers John and Steve Dragonette along with Master of Wine candidate Brandon Sparks-Gillis.

John Dragonette practiced law before meeting Brandon while working at well-regarded wine retailer Wally's in LA. Brandon brings his background in geology to bear on the winemaking process. John's brother Steve Dragonette, with a computer/tech background, joined them as they collectively explored their passion for Santa Barbara County wine. All three work at Dragonette full time along with seven other full-time employees.

Since their founding, they've remained true to their vision of enabling the grapes to represent their authentic terroir with minimal intervention.

All of their grapes come through long-term contracts tied to specific blocks of specific vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

I became familiar with Dragonette through Wine Access. Regular Wine Access customers will recognize Vanessa Conlin (MW) so it was great to hear from Brandon how real that connection is: It's not some random puffery they make up about a connections to the wines they sell.

See: The Master of Wine Journey, a tête-a-tête w. Brandon Sparks-Gillis and Vanessa Conlin

Dragonette now produces around 6,000 cases a year selling around 80% direct to consumer with the remainder split between retail and restaurant. It's very hard to find Dragonette in the wild, especially on the east coast, so definitely buy a bottle if you spot one.

Tasting Dragonette

2018 Sauvignon Blanc $50

It's quite unusual to see a California Sauvignon Blanc release 3 years post-vintage. They're aiming for a White Bordeaux style here, far more than a daily drinker and the price point shows how earnestly they persue this varietal.

The Vogelzang is seriously powerful with intense depth of flavor. Spun gold in color, it sees 89% French Oak, 35% of it new, 18 months (!) in barrel. Mango and pineapple aromas, minerality on the backend. The Grimm's Bluff Sauvignon Blanc takes things in a paler, lighter direction.

I always associate Sauvignon Blanc with wine tasting, and this was a very good start.

2018 Chardonnay Duvarita $65

Behind the Pinots, this was my favorite wine of the tasting. Lemon curd and gorgeous florals on the nose. This reminded me a bit of Kosta Browne's outstanding One Sixteen Chardonnay in a very good way. 100% French Oak, 33% new. Outstanding.

2019 Pinot Noir Radian $75

The 2018 version of this is what turned me on to them, and the moment I tasted this 2019 I was immediately reminded what I like so much about their Pinots. Absolutely stunning on the nose and lusciously satisfying on the palate. To me it's like, "This is what wine should be." Absolutely gorgeous.

2019 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills $50

Having only tasted a single vineyard Pinot of theirs (Radian) previously, I was looking forward to seeing what they do with an appellation wine. Starts off with a gregarious sweet perfume nose, then silky and delicious on the palate. This is a fantastic California Pinot Noir.

2018 Pinot Noir Black Label $95

Aromatically gorgeous with a kiss of oak that balances beautifully with the intensity of the fruit, backed by ample acidity. Comprised of grapes from Radian (62%), Fiddlestix (20%) and Bentrock (18%). 66% new French Oak, 19 months in barrel. This is a special wine: Enjoy on a special occassion with a good meal.

I budgeted space for two bottles in my luggage and opted to take home a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and a Black Label Pinot Noir. I would have gone for a Radian Pinot Noir, but I have a couple of those back home from Wine Access already.

Dragonette production facility in Buellton

Tasting Room Options

If you're headed to Santa Barbara County wine country, there are three Dragonette Cellars tasting experiences to consider:

• Tasting Room in Los Olivos
• Sit Down Tasting at The Study in Los Olivos
• Private Winery Tour/Tasting in Buellton (what we did)

Dragonette tasting room in Los Olivos

Los Olivos is a charming little town with tasting rooms from:

• Brewer-Clifton
• Liquid Farm
• Tensley
• Stolpman
• ...and more

See also the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe where Miles told Jack he wasn't going to be drinking any Merlot. We had lunch there. It's pretty good, but the interior looks nothing like it did in the movie. Check out Panino if you're just looking for a [very good] sandwich or salad.

Bottom Line

Visiting Dragonette Cellars at their production facility in Buellton was a great experience anyone can do. Highly recommended if you're in the area.

Consider joining their wine club if you can't make it out there.

Wine Access still has the 2018 Dragonette Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir [affiliate link] for sale.

Get free shipping on $120+ and $50 off your first $150 order through referral.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2019 Typicité Pinot Noir Big Pig Vineyard Russian River Valley

A recent Wine Access Limited Time Offer arrived. Let's get right into it...

The Promise

"This is for fans of Kosta Browne, Williams Selyem, Far Niente’s EnRoute, and other lush Russian River Pinots."

I'm a big fan of this category. Kosta Browne is a common aspirational comparison point for fruit-forward California Pinot Noir, but the EnRoute mention in particular appealed to me.

I think including Williams Selyem in this group was a little disjoint. I've uniformly found their wines to be thin and terroir-driven at best.

This is not an NDA wine. Typicité appears to be a young winery just starting out.

2019 Typicité Pinot Noir Big Pig Vineyard Russian River Valley [affiliate link]

14.2% Alcohol

$48/btl

Free Shipping on $120+

Medium-full bodied, 60% opaque and varietally correct for RRV Pinot in an appealing ruby-magenta hue.

Gorgeous and brilliant on the nose, the wine leaps from the glass with ripe strawberries, dark cherries, and supporting briar patch notes.

Impressive on the palate with silky texture, confident depth, and a bit of grip.

Not an off note in the bottle.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

Bottom Line

I really like this wine and would put it just behind this Santa Barbara Pinot Noir in terms of high quality non-NDA Wine Access discoveries.

It carries its $48/btl price tag, and perhaps a little more. A good deal if you can stack some discounts on it along with free shipping.

Get $50 off your first $150 order through referral.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2018 Elk Cove La Boheme Pinot Noir

2018 Elk Cove Vineyards La Boheme Pinot Noir [affiliate link]

$40/btl

Absolutely gorgeous from beginning to end.

Strikingly dark purple for an Oregon Pinot Noir, the wine leaps gregariously from the glass with violet, strawberry, and earthy forest floor notes. Perfectly pure on the palate with elegant fruit for days and a supple, silky texture.

Not an off note in the bottle.

It's all here. For me, a benchmark Oregon Pinot Noir.

94/100 WWP: Outstanding

I've heard Elk Cove reps describe La Boheme as a "slutty" wine. By that they mean it shows more fruit than most Oregon Pinot Noirs, including their own.

For me this results in an Oregon Pinot Noir that drinks a bit more like a California Pinot Noir (which I prefer on average) but does so while remaining true to the terroir it comes from.

I'd put this up there with Domaine Serene Evenstad as one of the best Oregon Pinot Noirs I've had. Costs like $40 (before discounts) and drinks like $80+.

See: The Best Oregon Pinot Noir I've Had

Free Shipping on $120+

Get $50 off your first $150 order

Read more...

Fresh off the Truck: 2018 Head High Pinot Noir [$20/btl before discounts]

A new batch of wines from Wine Access arrived today, including this one. Let's get right into it...

This isn't an NDA wine, but the write-up gives us insight into where Head High figures into the California Pinot Noir landscape. And how Head High relates to Three Sticks as a second label.

I've never tasted Three Sticks Pinot Noir but they produce (and in many cases own) wine from top Sonoma vineyards like Gap's Crown, Durell, and Walala. These Three Sticks wines sell for $65-$90.

So here comes this second label with a street price around $20/btl before discounts.

It's not totally clear to me that the grape source for this wine includes Three Sticks' top vineyards. But Decanter did rate the wine 92 points. Wine Enthusiast wasn't as generous, rating it only 85 points while noting a Eucalyptus edge that I did not pick up on in my tasting.

Wine Spectator didn't rate the wine, though they rated Three Sticks 2018 Pinots between 91 and 94 points.

A CellarTracker community average of 90.7 is quite favorable for the price.

2018 Head High Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir [affiliate link]

$20/btl

Free shipping on $120+

Dark in color for a Pinot, but varietally correct in weight.

Classic California Pinot Noir aromas of fresh cut strawberries and supporting dusty notes. The experience is consistent and appealing on entry. Very satisfying. Falls a little short on the finish but otherwise a very strong showing.

In short, it's exactly what I'd hope it would be: An affordable glimpse into high end Sonoma Pinot Noir.

90/100 WWP: Outstanding

This is a great wine for $20 before discounts. Stylistically, it's more aligned with $60+ California Pinot Noir than other $19.99-ish wines in the market.

See: Like Meiomi? Five other Pinot Noirs to try...

Free shipping on $120+

$50 off first $150 your first order

Read more...

Deal: Vaughn Duffy Pinot Noir 6-Pack

Sonoma producer Vaughn Duffy is offering a 6-pack of Pinot Noirs that caught my eye.

Award Winning 2018 Pinot Noir 6-Pack

• Two 2018 Vaughn Duffy Suacci Vineyard Pinot Noir
• Two 2018 Vaughn Duffy Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
• Two 2018 Vaughn Duffy Sonoma County Pinot Noir
• $229 + $15 Shipping
• $194.65 for Wine Club members + $15 Shipping

Long-time readers will know how highly I regard Vaughn Duffy wines.

See: Visit and Tasting Report: Vaughn Duffy Wines

Checking in with recent releases it's been great to see the quality continue. There's something special about their wines that just makes them jump out of the bottle, and I regularly find they hit the spot and my stash is depleted.

If you're not familiar with their wines and would like more variety check this other offer out:

Summer 2021 3-Pack

• 2019 Vaughn Duffy Bricoleur Vineyard Pinot Noir 
• 2019 Vaughn Duffy Bartolomei Brothers Vineyard Carignane 
• 2020 Vaughn Duffy Kick Ranch Sauvignon Blanc
• $99
• Free Shipping on two 3-packs

Bottom Line

This is a good time to reload on Vaughn Duffy or give them a try if you haven't already.

Another Sonoma Pinot Noir producer I've been enjoying lately is Scherrer. I wrote about this 40% off offer a while back. The wines arrived and they are outstanding. Offer is still available last I checked - could be worth a look if you were on the fence previously.

Read more...

Deal: Shane Wines Constant Disruptions Pinot Noir Mixed Case [$20.42/btl w/Free Shipping]

Shane Wines is offering:

• 6 bottles of 2019 Constant Disruptions Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
• 6 bottles of 2019 Constant Disruptions Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
• Shipping Included
• $245

Direct Link

Offer expires 5/14/2021.

Commentary

Winemaker/owner Shane Finley is one of the "great connectors" in Sonoma wines. He's worked for Copain, Paul Hobbs, Kosta Browne, Lynmar, AldenAlli and more. He maintains friendships with so many winemakers whose wines I appreciate and personally admire.

Visiting him at the winery has almost always included copious amounts of barrel tasting, down to earth charm, and amazing Pinot Noir.

Barrel Tasting w/Shane at Lynmar c. 2013

These "Constant Disruptions" bottlings retail for $25/bottle so $245 for the mixed case works out to a great deal at $20.42/btl and includes shipping. Most of Shane's Pinot Noirs sell for $42/btl which is extremely fair pricing given the quality.

He describes the Constant Disruptions line as follows:

These wines are classic representations of their appellations and show the dynamic difference between each growing region. This combination case is guaranteed to appeal to every Pinot Noir drinker.

Shorter barrel aging, no new oak, and fermented with native yeasts and minimal extraction to allow for an early release.

All in all, a great chance to try some value-priced California Pinot Noir before it's officially released.

Read more...

Deal: 2018 Elk Cove La Boheme Pinot Noir [$40 before discounts, compare at $60]

2018 Elk Cove Vineyards La Boheme Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton [affiliate link]

• $40/btl (compare at $60 release price)
• 13.5% alcohol
• 92 points Wine Advocate
• 92 points Vinous Media

This particular bottling wasn't rated by Wine Spectator but they thought highly of Elk Cove's Pinot Noirs from this vintage. 91 points for the appellation wine and as high as 93 for the Mount Richmond bottling.

Deals to Stack

• $50 off $150 for new customers
• A targeted Amex Offer for $50 off $150
• Free shipping on $120+

My Thoughts

I've absolutely adored Elk Cove's Pinot Noirs over the years. From enjoying my first taste of their Willamette Valley bottling at Tanglewood, to learning more about them them at smaller events at Blue Ginger, and larger events like Cochon 555. I'd really like to visit their winery some day.

Until then, I'm in for 3 bottles. Wine is scheduled to arrive late May.

Read more...

Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir at First Bottle

First Bottle is offering the 2014 Radio-Coteau Alberigi Pinot Noir for $64.95/btl.

Direct Link

Radio-Coteau has long been one of my favorite California Pinot Noir producers so this deal caught my eye.

See: Radio-Coteau: Old World Techniques with New World Fruit

Deals to Stack

• This widely available $50 off $250 Amex Offer expires 4/30/2021
• $10 off your first order through referral

Free shipping on 6 bottles, but quite nicely they offer $10 flat rate ground shipping on 1-5 bottles.

It's a 2014 so it's got some age on it, but from what I've tasted from Radio-Coteau in the past I bet this is drinking beautifully.

Read more...

Michael Browne Pinot Noirs (CIRQ and Chev) on Wine Access

Wine Access has the latest Pinot Noirs from Michael Browne available (affiliate links below):

• 2017 CIRQ. Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $225
• 2018 Chev. Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $105

I first learned about CIRQ during this visit to Kosta Browne at the Barlow, which included a unforgettable tasting at CIRQ's Treehouse Vinyeard.

More recently, I was thoroughly impressed with Chev's 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir especially after enjoying Michael Browne's book.

Deal or Not a Deal?

Wine Access says:

The barrier to the world's best wine isn't price. It's access.

It's great to see an opportunity to buy these wines, most commonly sold consumer direct, from an online retailer like Wine Access.

I say that because it provides an opportunity to buy just a couple bottles without competing for a slot on a mailing list, and just as importantly: Avoiding high shipping costs while trying just a couple bottles.

Let's look at the Chev at $105/btl. Winery direct pricing is $80. I bought 3 bottles and paid $25 for shipping. That's $88/btl after shipping.

With Wine Access we can potentially stack a couple deals:

• $50 off $150 for new customers through referral
• A targeted Amex Offer for $50 off $150

That could potentially work out to:

• 2 x $105 = $210
• Less $50 through referral = $160
• Less $50 for the Amex offer = $110
• Free shipping on $120+ (calculated on pre-discount pricing) = $55/btl

That's a pretty great deal on a tremendous Pinot Noir.

Do I regret buying it for $88/btl winery direct? Not at all. This is a great opportunity to justify cracking one of those bottles open and replenishing my stock through Wine Access.

Can I justify splurging on a $225 bottle of CIRQ with discounts? Sheesh - that's a tough call. I have a hard time justifying wine north of $100/btl in my mind. $225 for a domestic Pinot Noir is a new high water mark. I need some crazy deal (like this one) to justify that in my mind.

Read more...

Wine Access 2018 Concept Album Pinot Noir [$70 Savoy Vineyard for $22?]

2018 Concept Album Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Mendocino County $22 [affiliate link]

14.2% Alcohol

Light in color, light in body, and...almost full of flavor.

These Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs tend to present themselves in a more reserved manner, and this one is no exception. The wine does drink cleanly and pleasantly, but it's targeted at those looking for a more "varietally correct" Pinot Noir. I say that as someone who prefers a brawnier Russian River Valley interpretation of the variety.

If tasted blind it would surely be identified as coming from Oregon -or- [more affordable] Burgundy.

It does deliver on its price point and perhaps a little more. But if paid $70 for it, I'd be disappointed.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

Clues

• Top 5 Vineyards according to Wine Enthusiast
• "It’s where icons like Littorai, Radio-Coteau, and Adrian Fog go to source their Pinot Noir" (this instantly sounds like Savoy Vineyard to me)

This really sounds like it's harkening towards this wine:

I'd never heard of FEL before, but evidently it's part of the Cliff Lede family of wines.

The only thing that doesn't line up is the alcohol level. 13.8% for the FEL vs 14.2% for the Concept Album. But that's within allowable ranges.

Bottom Line

I'm not sure how this one snuck by me. I wish Wine Access did more NDA Pinot Noirs, but they seem to be more focused on Cabernets. And the Pinot Noirs they've done tend to be a little lighter than I'd prefer.

You know what Pinot Noir blew me away recently on first taste? Scherrer. The wines they offered as part of their Wine Bersekers special was incredible (the 2016 Gunsalus in particular). Don't miss out on their 40% offer if you enjoy this category. And don't forget to use the Grand Reserve Mastercard if you have it. Scherrer is a partner winery and earns 5x, plus an additional 2x if it's the winery/wine shop you spent the most on that statement cycle.

Anway, back to Wine Access and this Concept Album Pinot Noir...

$50 off $150 through referral. Thanks in advance for using my link (that gives me a $50 credit to Wine Access which enables me to try more of their releases).

Read more...

[Sold Out?] 2017 Keller Estate La Cruz Pinot Noir [$52 for $32 before discounts]

2017 Keller Estate La Cruz Vineyard Pinot Noir [affiliate link]

$32/btl [$52 retail]

14.2% Alcohol

50% opaque, it's one of those wines that delivers so much depth of flavor given how translucent it is.

Absolutely intoxicating aromatically. Pitch-perfect florals, strawberries, and edgy briar patch. Silky mouthfeel with just a touch of tannic grip and enough acidity that it should play well with a lot of scenarios.

Really well-made wine. An absolute delight to drink.

92/100 WWP: Outstanding

New customers get $50 off $150 through referral.

Or 20% off if you're a returning customer.

Since this now shows sold out in Massachusetts I'm sorry I didn't buy more, but I'm glad I got a chance to enjoy it at a great price.

My positive reaction to Keller Estate and their La Cruz Vineyard harkens back to on-site visits and one of my early discoveries in wine. So I should have known better.

But as they say, there's always another great deal around the corner. Subscribe to hear about the next one...

Read more...

Fresh Off The Truck: 2018 Kahler Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma County [$85 for $30?]

2018 Kahler Cellars Pinot Noir Sonoma County $30 [affiliate link, compare at $85]

13.9% Alcohol

Just as linear and clean as you can imagine, with typical California Pinot Noir characteristics.

Well-mannered, though I prefer Sonoma Pinot Noir with a bit of an edge. A little bramble. A little grip. This comes off a bit one-dimensional.

It's a pure wine, no doubt. But I hoped for more depth.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

Bottom Line

I really wanted to like this wine, and as much as I prefer Pinot Noir to Cabernet a subsquent tasting of the 2018 Moundsman Rutherford Napa Cab just blew this wine away.

I say this drinks like the $30 it's priced at, which after discounts/a referral isn't a terrible deal.

Some other California Pinot Noirs to check out:

• Hartford Court
• EnRoute
• Meiomi alternatives
• Dehlinger
• Scherrer

Also:

• 7 Reliably Outstanding Fruit Forward California Pinot Noir Producers
• 5 Outstanding Terroir Driven California Pinot Noir Producers

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Scherrer Winery: "Continued Patience" Sale 40% Off Select Wines + Free Shipping on 12+

I'm surprised I haven't seen more winery direct offers due to reduced on-premise demand. But here's a great opportunity to buy wine from a tremendous California producer that's hard to find at retail (in Massachusetts anyway).

From the winery:

As you would imagine, it has been extremely difficult for us to operate under these conditions. Fortunately, because of your support, we have been able to manage. So out of gratitude as well as necessity, we have once again selected several wines that had been held back for restaurants which are absolutely showing their potential for the 2021 “Continued Patience” Nepenthe.

Direct Link

Wines included at 40% off:

• 2014 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
• 2012 Platt Vineyard Pinot Noir
• 2012 Big Brother Pinot Noir
• 2015 Russian River Valley Syrah

10% on all other wines

Free Shipping on 12+ bottles

Michael Browne wrote in his book Pinot Rocks:

This guy named Fred Scherrer, he’s got Scherrer Winery. He is a wonderful guy and he grew up on a farm in Alexander Valley. He has been making wine forever. He worked for Tom Dellinger and he’s still making wine. I asked him one day, it was probably, I don’t know, 12 or 15 years ago. I said, “Fred, you’ve been doing this for a long time, making wine, and I am struggling here man.” I said, “When did you get it? When did you understand it?”

He says, “Michael, I’ve come to figure out it takes two consecutive adult lifetimes to figure it out.” I said, “Wow, nobody has that.” He said, “Exactly.”

See: Thoughts on "Pinot Rocks" by Michael Browne

I went for for 10 bottles of the RRV Pinot, 1 of the Platt and 1 of the Big Brother.

Tip: Scherrer is a Grand Reserve World Mastercard and as such earns 5x on that card. It will probably be the top winery I spend at this month so I'll get an additional 2x for a total of 7x in rewards. I normally put unbonused wine spend on credit cards I'm working towards a welcome bonus on but 7x is enough to sway me to use the Grand Reserve Card.

Visit the Scherrer Winery site for more info and to place an order.

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