Pinot Noir
YEAR    WINE/DESCRIPTION    PRICE
2006    A.P. Vin Gary's Vineyard Pinot Noir
   $51.95
2006    A.P. Vin Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
   $51.95
2006    Brewer-Clifton Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir
   $69.99
2006    Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
   $93.00
2006    Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Latest release from the Pisoni Family.
   $38.95
2006    MacPhail Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
This beauty is a blend of fruit from the Pratt and Goodin Vineyards. With raspberry, cinnamon, and damp peat on the nose, this wine is just beginning to reveal itself. Impeccably balanced, this wine tastes of cherries, plums, cedar, with a hint of smokiness. Jim MacPhail is able to go from vintage to vintage, creating wines that are pure expressions of "place."
   $44.95
2006    Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
   $37.95.
2006    Stubbs Vineyard Estate Marin County Pinot Noir
The foggy, cool climate of this Marin winery produces low yields (1-2 tons per acre) of small, intensely-flavored berries. This climate makes for a long, even growing season, perfect for Pinot Noir. Dan Goldfield is the winemaker here and he has crafted a beautiful Pinot in 2006. Floral, plum, and cinnamon nose, with bright fresh raspberry and red fruits coupled with rosewater and baking spices. If you are looking for a fruit bomb look somewhere else; if you would like a wine with elegance, sweet tannins, and balance, here's your ticket.
   $39.00
2006    Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir
The 2006 Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir lives up to the reputation of this fine brand, quality in the bottle at a tremendous price point. This wine has aromas of cherries and cocoa. There is a nice earthiness on the palate with a good attack. Red and black fruits abound, with hints of cola and nutmeg. The wine has good grip and will continue to improve in the bottle.
   $19.00
2005    Kistler Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir
RP 96 pts.
   $199.00
2005    Loring Naylor Dry Hole Chalone Pinot Noir
125 case production. WS 90 pts.
   $48.00
2005    MacPhail Pratt Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
   $54.99
2005    MacPhail Sangiocomo Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
   $57.00
2005    Martinelli Blue Slide Pinot Noir
RP 95 pts.
   $185.00
2005    Molnar Family Poseidon's Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
Plums and gunflint on the nose, cherries, rose petals, and hints of cinnamon on the palate, this wine has wonderful smoothness and length. WS 88 pts.
   $25.95
2005    Rochioli Little Hill Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
500 case production. RP 93-95 pts.
   $184.50
2005    Toulouse Estate Pinot Noir
As is often the case for me, I hear about new wines from my customers. I received an inquiry about the 2005 Toulouse Estate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. I vaguely knew that Toulouse was making its own Pinot bottling and I have been more than familar with the MacPhail Toulouse Pinot, but for some reason this winery never made it onto my radar screen. I called Vern Boltz, owner and winemaker, and inquired about receiving a sample bottle. Vern, a retired Fire Captain from Oakland, was happy to hear about my interest and sent me a bottle. He also suggested I check out James Laube's blog entry on August 21st "A Trek to Toulouse," in Wine Spectator online. Laube stated, "the real star is Pinot Noir; I especially liked the 2002 and 2005. The 2002 is the first commercial release, and I rated it in the outstanding range during a recent blind tasting at my office. It is now medium red garnet in color, intense and vibrant, with sour cherry....The 2005 ($39) is similar to 2002, but with riper, richer flavors that are intense yet elegant and spicy." When I cracked open the 2005 bottle, I knew my customer and Laube were on to something. What a perfumed, floral nose! The wine was spicy, tasting of bright plum fruit, anise, camphor, and steel. This is a bold Pinot, without being over the top. Highly recommended. WS 91 pts.
   $37.99
2005    Williams-Selyem Allen Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
ST 93 pts.
   $118.00
2005    Williams-Selyem Bucher Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
ST 92 pts.
   $89.00
2005    Williams-Selyem Ferrington Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
ST 92 pts.
   $89.00
2005    Williams-Selyem Vista Verde San Benito Pinot Noir
ST 91 pts.
   $68.00
2005    Williams-Selyem Weir Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
ST 92 pts.
   $84.00
2004    Domaine Alfred Chamisal Vineyards Pinot Noir
WS 93 pts.
   $53.00
2004    Martinelli Blue Slide Pinot Noir
ST 93 pts.
   $185.00
2004    Walter Hansel North Slope Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
RP 94-96 pts.
   $99.95
2003    Ambullneo Bulldog Reserve Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
RP 93 pts.
   $98.00
2003    Kistler Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir
RP 90-92 pts.
   $105.00
2003    Peter Michael Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
RP 93 pts. ST 93 pts.
   $148.00
2003    Red Car Amour Fou Pinot Noir
   $59.00
2002    Marcassin Blue Slide Ridge Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 95 pts.
   $350.00
2002    Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 98 pts.
   $350.00
2002    Sean Thackrey Andromeda Marin County Pinot Noir
   $89.75
2002    Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Pinot Noir
266 case production. RP 92 pts. WS 92 pts.
   $158.00
2001    Marcassin Blue Slide Ridge Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 92 pts.
   $350.00
2001    Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 93 pts.
   $350.00
2001    Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir
RP 90 pts.
   $75.00
2001    Williams Selyem Weir Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir
   $70.00
2000    Marcassin Blue Slide Pinot Noir
RP 96 pts.
   $350.00
2000    Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 97 pts.
   $350.00
2000    Martinelli Reserve Pinot Noir
RP 90 pts.
   $69.00
1998    Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 98 pts.
   $425.00
1997    Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
RP 95 pts.
   $425.00