Sinor-LaVallee Estate Pinot Noir 2017

Sinor-LaVallee Estate Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Sinor-LaVallee Chardonnay reflects a maniacal attentiveness only possible through sole proprietorship from viticulture through winemaking. The aim was to create a singular Chardonnay that expresses the totality of Bassi Ranch’s ultra-coastal terroir.

The wine Chardonnay offers fragrant aromas of tropical fruit with notes of butterscotch, apricot and crème brûlée. The palate is rich and viscous, yet never loses its energy or focus. Flavors of pear, pineapple and peach show trailing notes of vanilla, mineral and spice. A luscious, full-bodied mid palate yields to a sense of balanced sleekness on the finish.

The nose here is brilliantly red fruited, with layer upon layer of subtle spice, bright floral notes, herbs, and stone. Its not all poetry and pageantry, though, and the first impression of the wine was simply, “oh that’s goooood.” A fair assessment, and sometimes that it all one requires. Further tastes show fine tannin throughout, a juicy, vibrant mouthfeel that is very likeable, and deft, long-developing layers of fruit that reveal themselves severally.
Patton Valley's flagship wine, The Estate is the most comprehensive expression of their vineyard site, and the wine that truly defines their place in a given vintage.

Review:

"Glistening red. Vibrant red fruit, floral and spice scents show very good clarity that picks up subtle hints of succulent herbs and smoky minerals with air. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, the 2017 offers gently sweet cherry raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a touch of spicecake. Smooth, well-integrated tannins make a late appearance on a long, floral-tinged finish that shows no rough edges. - Josh Raynolds" - Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2020), 92 pts

Niner Wine Estates Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Jes­persen Ranch’s fog­gy morn­ings and coastal breezes cre­ate per­fect grow­ing con­di­tions for Pinot Noir. After hand-har­vest­ing the grapes, we fer­ment­ed them in small, stain­less steel, open-top tanks. About ¼ of the fer­men­ta­tions includ­ed a whole-clus­ter com­po­nent, which adds a del­i­cate tan­nin struc­ture, spice and length to the wine. The 2020 vin­tage includes only the high­est qual­i­ty, free-run juice aged for 10 months in French Oak bar­rels. The wine is full of red fruit fla­vors, with a bright and juicy palate under­scored by warm­ing pot­pour­ri, spice and clay flavors.

VINEYARD Jespersen Ranch is located four miles from the ocean, tucked into the hillsides in the western corner of the Edna Valley. We farm seven different clones of Pinot Noir at this coastal site and it produces wines full of layered flavors, rich color and ample acidity. The 2020 vintage was unforgettable. In the early days of the pandemic the vineyard was a fantastic respite, with mild weather and lucky March rainfall that produced large vine canopies. Moderate Summer weather was then followed up by heat spikes and the California wildfires in early Fall. Thankfully, the vine’s large canopies helped shield the grapes from the heat, and our vineyard escaped the effects of smoke taint and we hand-harvested all of our Pinot Noir in September.

WINEMAKING We have a second winery situated behind our tasting room that is dedicated to our Pinot Noir program. After hand-harvesting the grapes, we ferment them in small, stainless steel, open-top tanks. About ¼ of the fermentations included a whole-cluster component, which adds a delicate tannin structure, spice and length to the wine. The 2020 vintage was comprised of the highest quality, free-run juice and we aged the wine for 10 months in French Oak barrels. The result is a wine full of red fruit flavors, with a bright and juicy palate underscored by warming potpourri, spice and clay flavors.

Ancien Pinot Noir Carneros is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Pinot Noir Carneros comes entirely from the Toyon Vineyard, located in the Napa side of Carneros. This vineyard was originally planted for Ancien Wines in 1998 with cuttings tracing back to the Swan estate in Sonoma County and Dijon 115 - followed by cuttings from Ed Penhoet’s vineyard in Carmel Valley. Ed’s selection from River Selection is a story into itself, and is sometimes referred as “Pisoni Clone” since Gary Pisoni took cuttings from the vineyard in the early ‘80s.

Baking spice sings in an endless symphony with wild berry notes, complemented by characteristic Carneros notes of cola. Juicy cherry notes grace the palate and combine seamlessly with anise and hibiscus, ending on a savory note. The palate is round and full of textural, mouth-coating tannins balanced by a bright acidity. Broad chewy tannins, earthy spices and minerality complement the fruit and exotic floral notes of this wine. The palate of this delicious wine will continue to develop in opulence over years of aging, revealing even darker layers and an increasingly smooth texture.

Review:

Lively in brooding black fruit, this wine is balanced in richness and length, with a lasting wealth of baking spice and black tea. Well integrated, it forms a cohesive experience on the smooth, seductive palate, finding a balance across all its components

-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points 

Archery Summit Estate Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

A medley of graphite, spice and crushed red strawberries waft from the glass. Further digging reveals even more to the nose of this Pinot Noir, in the flickering form of oak spice and caramelized fruits. On the palate, there’s opulent fruit and signature Dundee Hills spices like allspice, cardamom and sandalwood. The palate is loaded, with fresh strawberry jam and an underlying earthiness taking the lead. Structurally, there are soft oak tannins that give way to an exquisitely long and balanced finish.

Bass Phillips Estate Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.

From the original Estate vineyard; 8,500 vines/hectare; specific plot cropping at approx. one tonne/acre, often blended with the best fruit from our Leongatha Vineyard. Wine with attractive, rich fruits in the mid-palate, with the strength to improve up to ten years in the cellar. Bottled without fining or filtration.

The exquisitely balanced single vineyard Estate Pinot Noir draws fruit from the extremely low cropping, closely spaced north easterly facing, four hectare un-irrigated vineyard. The wine is vinified in an open stainless steel fermenter with regular plunging to extract colour and flavour. After fermentation the wine is gravity racked into a combination of new (60%) and old French Alliers oak for a maturation period of around 15 to 18 months.

Review:

This bottling is the most linear and acid driven of the range. A translucent strawberry hue, the nose is open and elegant, with delicate aromas of fresh red berries, dried roses, white pepper, terra cotta and savory spice. There's an initial burst of tingly acidity on the tongue that mellows, allowing the silky textured fruit, savory, floral and mineral nuances to shine. Drink now–2030. 

-Wine Enthusiast 96 Points