Best of The Best: California Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is clearly on the rise in California. There are nearly 30,000 acres planted today — double what there were ten years ago. Moreover, in friendly (read cooler) climes such as Anderson Valley, Carneros, Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands and Santa Maria Valley, this famously temperamental grape has become a model citizen, producing no end — or so it seems — of well-mannered wines. Indeed, whenever QRW sits down to taste California Pinot Noir these days, we find ourselves more and more impressed by the overall level of quality. This was certainly the case with our recent foray into 2006 and 2007 California Pinots, as once again, we found many wines to like.
The following 19 were especially good ...
Five-Star California Pinot Noir
Wines of extraordinary character and quality —
in a class by themselves
BEST OF SHOW
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Clay Brock, Wild Horse winemaker |
2006 Wild Horse Pinot Noir Unbridled (Santa Barbara County), $36.
Ultra-ripe black fruit nose; lush, opulent, well-concentrated, black cherry and toasted nut flavors — heavenly stuff!
2007 Barnett Pinot Noir Viento Valle (Anderson Valley), $55.
Enticing ripe-red-berry nose; plush, opulent yet well-knit, raspberry, cherry and vanilla flavors.
2007 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Clark & Telephone Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley), $50.
Fetching nutmeg and red berry nose; plush, silky, wild raspberry, spice and toasted nut flavors.
2007 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands), $60.
Ripe, toasty, black fruit nose; rich, spicy, well-structured, black cherry and roasted nut flavors.
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Donum Estate Owner and Viticulturist Anne Moller-Racke |
2006 Donum Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley), $65.
Engaging blackberry aromas; deep, generous, plush, well-concentrated, black fruit, spice and roasted nut flavors.
2006 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir Reserve (Russian River Valley), $50.
Deep, rich, cocoa-like nose; plush, spicy, well-balanced, black fruit and French roast flavors.
2006 Schug Pinot Noir Heritage Reserve (Carneros), $40.
Rich, spicy, black cherry nose; elegantly knit, black cherry, nutmeg and toast flavors.
Four-Star California Pinot Noir
Wines of outstanding character and quality —
benchmarks of their type
BEST VALUE
2006 Taz Pinot Noir Cuyama River (Santa Maria Valley), $25.
Rich, warm, black cherry and toasted nut nose; lush, round, elegant, black cherry and nutmeg flavors.
2007 Barnett Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard (Anderson Valley), $55.
Nice, ripe, black fruit nose; soft, round, juicy, black fruit and toast flavors.
2006 Byron Pinot Noir Sierra Madre Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley), $40.
Fresh, zesty, wild berry nose; plush, spicy, well-knit, wild raspberry and nutty oak flavors.
2007 Chalone Pinot Noir (Chalone/Monterey County), $37.
Rich, ripe, black fruit nose; big, fat, juicy, black cherry and toasted nut flavors.
2006 Dutton Goldfield Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch-Freestone Hill Vineyard (Russian River Valley), $58.
Fresh, ripe, black cherry nose; plush, supple, elegantly knit, black fruit and nutty oak flavors.
2006 Etude Pinot Noir Estate Grown (Carneros), $42.
Exuberantly ripe red-berry nose; deliciously pure, plump, juicy, raspberry and toasted nut flavors.
2006 Freestone Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast), $75.
Big, rich, black cherry and spice nose; plump, lush, elegantly knit, black cherry and spice flavors.
2006 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Land’s Edge Vineyard (Sonoma Coast), $45.
Fresh, spicy, black fruit nose; rich, full, spicy, black cherry and toasted nut flavors.
2006 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters (Anderson Valley), $60.
Nutty black fruit nose; rich, plump, juicy, black cherry, toasted nut and vanilla flavors.
2006 Marimar Estate Pinot Noir Earthquake Vineyard (Russian River Valley), $55.
Deep, meaty, black fruit nose; big, rich, black cherry and roasted nut flavors — needs time.
2006 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Pinot Noir Petersen Vineyard (Sonoma Coast), $55.
Fresh, zesty, black fruit nose; ripe, plump, juicy, black cherry, nutmeg and toasted nut flavors.
2006 Twomey Cellars Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley), $50.
Big, rich, earthy nose; deep, rich, firmly packed, black fruit, mineral and French roast flavors — needs time.