Category Archives: Pinot Noir

Sangiacomo Wines: Current Releases from Sonoma

Posted on September 14, 2020 by don

The Sangiacomos are third generation farmers in Sonoma with fifteen different vineyards and more than 100 individually farmed sites  located in Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Petaluma Gap and Sonoma Valley. Until recently they exclusively sold grapes to the top wineries in Sonoma … Continue reading →

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Great Values in a Time of Pandemic: Selections from Chile

Posted on August 17, 2020 by don

Chile has made its mark by producing and exporting wines of exceptional value.  With a pandemic raging, the economy shrinking, and many wine consumers unemployed, there’s a growing demand for affordable wines that offer real drinking pleasure. With this week’s announcement … Continue reading →

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Siduri Pinot Noir: Latest Releases from California and Oregon

Posted on July 23, 2020 by don

Siduri is one of America’s preeminent producers of Pinot Noir. Under the guidance of founder Adam Lee, it produces a wide variety of vineyard designated premium wines and blends from celebrated vineyards in California and Oregon. Adam and his winemaker, … Continue reading →

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Cameron Hughes: An American Negociant Offering Wines of Superb Value

Posted on July 20, 2020 by don

Cameron Hughes is a wine négociant who started his eponymous enterprise in 2001, buying excess, bulk wine from well-known California wineries, bottling it and selling it at Costco and other discount locations.  This business model works well when there’s surplus wine. … Continue reading →

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James MacPhail’s Tongue Dancer: New Releases from Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast

Posted on July 20, 2020 by don

Veteran winemaker James MacPhail has four new offerings of his Tongue Dancer wines, and each is a pleasure to drink.  Sourced from top vineyards in the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast, the new releases include a Chardonnay, a Pinot … Continue reading →

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Ron Rubin’s Very Good Value Wines from the Russian River Valley

Posted on July 10, 2020 by don

Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley is home to some of California’s best vineyards and winemakers, and many of the wines are priced accordingly.  It’s not easy to find inexpensive, good quality wines from this part of the wine world.  Ron Rubin is … Continue reading →

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Clarice: 2018 Pinot Noirs from the Santa Lucia Highlands

Posted on May 18, 2020 by don

We recently held a virtual tasting of the 2018 Clarice Pinot Noir with the talented veteran winemaker Adam Lee.  We originally planned to meet in Washington to taste the wines, as we had last year, but COVID19 got in the way … Continue reading →

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Selections from J.K. Carriere of the Willamette Valley

Posted on May 13, 2020 by don

Jim Prosser started the J.K. Carriere label in 1999 and in 2009 planted his own dry farmed, organically farmed vineyard on the southeast flank of Parrett Mountain in the Chehalem Mountains AVA.  In addition to Chehalem, he sources fruit from … Continue reading →

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Napa’s Castello di Amorosa Spreads its Wings

Posted on May 11, 2020 by don

This Napa-based family winery was opened in April 2007 by owner Dario Sattui.  It operates from an authentically built castle and winery situated in the hills just south of the city of Calistoga.  On our visit to the Castello a … Continue reading →

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Sonoma’s Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery: Special Terroir, Special Wines

Posted on April 27, 2020 by don

In 1994 Lester and Linda Schwartz began planting their Fort Ross vineyard on Sonoma’s high coastal ridge overlooking the Pacific. Today they have 32 small blocks on 53 acres that range from 1200 to 1700 feet in elevation with marine … Continue reading →

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