Top Ten Pinot Noirs of 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

MacRostie 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$38.00USD

A terrific Pinot considering the price, this affordable wine showcases the rustic quality of Sonoma Coast fruit. Obvious strawberry, red raspberry, light pomegranate, and plum fill the palate. The weather along the Sonoma Coast also produces a brambly quality, more macerated deeper and richer red fruits along with an ideal acidity and moderate tannins. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen wisely chose to keep the oak treatment minimal, using only 30% new French oak with reduced toast levels. These choices make this great with food - a delicate Pinot Noir that offers some heft and swagger.

Argyle 2022 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

One of the great things typical of Oregon Pinot Noir is that these wines have an earthiness to them that California Pinot does not necessarily possess. The fruit is more subdued, and in the case of this Argyle, you get a nice balance, something reminiscent of Burgundy that has expressive fruit, but an earthy, mellow aged quality that drinks very well.

Calera 2020 Pinot Noir, Ryan Vineyard

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$125.00USD

When Pinot Noir vines hit around 20 years of age, they typically show a beautiful maturity of fruit. At a grow elevation of 2,200 feet and planted in limestone soils Calera’s wines show an intensity and acidity other wines only strive for. Soft and lithe, this Pinot is an easy drinking, very amenable wine. There are fruit notes with a little more earthiness, light mushroom and damp leaf. You’ll notice rhubarb, pomegranate, very light cherry with a firm tannic structure to support the acidity. Perhaps curiously, there are not certain flavors that dominate this Pinot, as is typical of many.

2021 Sineann Pinot Noir Yates Conwill Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Yamhill-Carlton, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$39.00USD

Deeper ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spices and char.  Medium to full bodied.  Silky texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with some forest floor and char.  Long finish.  This is delicious and deep and should improve with some short term cellaring.  It is on the  bigger side (for Oregon) but it has the stuffing to develop.  Nice on its own, this will work wellw ith flavorful food.  A good choice with duck.  Great value.

2021 Sineann Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$44.00USD

This is a bit more elegant than most Sineann wines.  Light ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose  has sour cherries and sandalwood.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is very nice albeit not that complex.  It drinks easy with persistent sour cherries.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  It is nice on its own and will well with many foods.  Pork chops would be a great pairing.  Drink over the next six to nine years.  

2022 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Kalita Vineyard, USA, Oregon, Willamette, Yamhill-Carlton, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

Very light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries with green herbal streak.  Soft texture.  Light to medium tannins.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, plenty of cherries with a slight bitter cherry note.  Long finish with some heat.  Overall, a nice Pinot that is drinking well and should continue over the next five to eight years.  It is better with food and would work well with savory pasta and mushroom dishes.

2023 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, USA, California, Willamette, Dundee Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This is a Rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes.  The wine saw about four hours of contact with the skins.  Pale salmon pink in color, clear and bright.  It has a very  nice nose with watermelon and rhubarb.  Creamy texture.  Good acidity.  On the palate, flavors of strawberries and watermelon. Long finish.  This drinks easy with no bite or bitterness.  It would work well with lighter foods but also fried chicken.  Drink over the next few years.   

2022 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, USA, Oregon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$34.00USD

This is their basic Pinot Noir bottling.  It is made with estate fruit from their six vineyards which are vinified separately and then blended.  It is an easy and accessible Pinot Noir (and realistically priced).  Medium ruby in color with blue hues, clear and bright.  The nose is tight and took about an hour to really show much (if drinking soon, give it a decant).  With air it shows cherries, dust, slight pomegranate, and forest floor.  Plush texture.  good acidity.  Light to medium tannins.  On the palate, cherries, slight sour cherries, forest floor.  Some menthol on the finish.  A very

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