2018 Hess Central Coast Pinot Noir, USA, California, Wine Review

This is a value drive Pinot Noir from one of the longtime California wineries. Ruby in color with slight purple swirls. On the nose this has cherries, sour cherries, slight hay/earthiness to it. On the palate, this is ripe, slightly sweet Pinot Noir. Big cherry fruit. A bit of underlying cola flavors. A soft texture. Light tannins. Slight bitter note on the finish. This is an easy drinking Pinot that drinks well on its own. It will work well with appetizers or salty foods. At $19 msrp, this is an excellent value for Pinot Noir of this style. it probably is best drunk in the next few years.

Grade:

B+

Score:

Vintage:

2018

Current Price:

$19.00USD

Top California Pinot Noir: Which California Wine Producers Make the Best Pinot Noir?

California has actually been making outstanding wines from the Pinot Noir grape for a long time. Sure, not long in the Burgundian sense but going back at least to the middle of the last century there were good bottles of Pinot Noir being produced in California. Not many to be sure, but there were some. Starting slowly, in the 1990’s, and then exploding when the movie Sideways came out, there are now more and more offerings of good to excellent Pinot Noir being produced in California.

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2013 Boars' View Pinot Noir The Coast, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage:

2013

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$150.00USD

My first time trying this winery. Very impressive. In a blind tasting of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, this was the runaway winner for the group. Ruby in color, purple at the core. The nose has smoke, cherries, black cherries, slight cola and a nice earthiness to it. Lovely velvety texture. On the palate black cherries and slight anise. Long finish. This is still youthful but approaching maturity. Drinks great on its own and will work well with food. Mushroom Risotto would be great. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.

2016 Sean Minor Pinot Noir Four Bears, USA, California, Central Coast, Wine Review

Vintage:

2016

Score:

Grade:

B+

Light ruby in color. The nose is sweaty with cherries and slight earth. On the palate, this has macerated cherries. A bit harsh but ok. A mild bit of depth. THis is a fine wine to serve for large parties. It retails for $15 and is varietally correct. Not a big wine, but not delicate either.

Blending Pinot Noir on the Central Coast: Scents and Sensibilities

As with most things in life, collaboration is the key to success. In the world of wine, collaboration is evident between winemakers and growers, winemakers and coopers and so forth. Yet when the critical stage of blending a wine happens, many winemakers go it alone. Blending various wines means that different clones, different toast levels of barrels, and grapes from different vineyards, must be taken into account in order to produce a stand-out wine.

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2019 Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, USA, California, WIne Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$55.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. It fits nicely into The Prisoner Wine Company's portfolio. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is big with bold cherry and black cherry fruit. There is also some spice and a touch of cola notes. Full bodied with a lovely texture. On the palate, the ripe cherry fruit comes thru with underlying vanilla and spice. Very tasty. Long finish. This drinks great on its own and will work with bolder foods from Salmon to pork. Drink over the next five to seven years.

2018 Hess Central Coast Pinot Noir, USA, California, Wine Review

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2019 Prisoner Wine Company Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, USA, California, WIne Review