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.

2017 Aeris Wines Bianco Centennial Mountain, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine ReviewWine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is 100% Carricante grape grown 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Sonoma Coast.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose takes some time to open and then shows peach, minerality, slight lemon, floral notes and salinity.  Medium bodied.  Round but with acidity.  On the palate, this is deep.  It really works better with food.  It went nicely with a vegetarian Hungarian Vegetable Stew.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2022 Maxem Chardonnay UV Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

First time trying this Chard.  Yellow/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with nice minerality along with lemons and a bit of peach.  Lovely oily texture.  Good acidity.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is deep.  It is very young of course, but should really develop over time.  Lemon cream notes.  Very long finish.  This is a rounder wine (in a good way) than I had been expecting and seems of California.  There is some oak but seems in balance.  Probably worth holding for a year or two and then drink for seven to ten after that.  This would be nice with sea food

MacRositie 2021 The Key Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

For years MacRostie has had much success with Chardonnay and this latest offering is no exception. Pulling fruit from three distinct vineyards – all of which produce exceptional fruit on their own - this offers a taut acidity with light notes of green melon, citrus, star fruit, honeysuckle, lemon meringue, resin, guava and floral wildflower notes – a palette of tropical fruits. The combination of these vineyard sources shows how a wine can be better than the sum of its parts, and The Key is a harmonious, lovely, enjoyable wine.

2015 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, cranberries and slight rhubarb along with some spice and char.  Wonderful semi-plush texture.  Good balance.  Light tannins.  The palate is riper/stronger than the nose (in a good way).  Cherries and Kirsch with some char.  Long finish.  This has some complexity and depth as it nears peak.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Very nice on its own, this would be great with Roasted Duck.

2021 Ceritas Chardonnay Zephyr Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

One of our favorite Chardonnay producers.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has great minerality along with a bit of lemons, spice and char.  Full  bodied.  Crisp acidity.  Slightly creamy texture.  On the palate, this has great lemon notes with underlying minerality and a touch of char.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but there is a strong backbone of acidity that will make it better with food.  It would be a good wine to have with lobster.  Drink over the next ten years.  

Emeritus 2020 Pinot Noir, Pinot Hill Vineyard

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$72.00USD

Emeritus has long had a love affair with Pinot Noir, always seeking new ways to let grapes and ground express what’s in the bottle. This 2020 offers bright fruits of wild cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, plum with back notes of light green tea leaf, very light cola, and light earthiness and minerality - notes that Sonoma coast fruit is known for. There is a nice velvety viscosity to this as well as mild tannins that support the fruit and mellow out the overall feel of the wine.

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

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$149.00USD

This is a Pinot Noir from the folks who make Schrader.  14.5% abv.  Ruby in color, darker at the core, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, and spice with a nice earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries and plums with some spice.  This is a huge Pinot with tons of fruit.  Some may find that off putting while others may finally have found a Pinot they love.  It drinks great on its own and will pair for food similar to a Napa Cab (i.e steak, etc.)  Drink over the next ten years.  

Three Sticks 2021 Pinot Noir, Gap’s Crown Vineyard

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

One sip and you realize this is a different kind of Pinot Noir than the norm. If you know Sonoma Coast Pinot’s, they all have a rustic quality to them; a brambly component that sets them apart from the overt fruity Pinot, and this is a good thing. This certainly offers red raspberry and wild cherry, touches of huckleberry and gooseberry, but it is that resin/bramble/wild berry note that makes this a unique and fun wine. Certainly this wine is not for everyone, the acidity is higher than most Pinot’s, but it immediately begs for food.

Three Sticks Pinot Noir, Sonoma Ciast

2018 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Rivers Marie (the home winery of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown) really knocked it out of the park with their 2018 Chardonnay.  This is the basic release (not a single vineyard) and it is wonderful.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, vanilla and spice.  Full bodied.  Silky light tannins.  Great acidity and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious. Lemons, vanilla and slight smoke.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its  own and will work well with sea food or even fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  An Excellent value!

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