P I N O T . N O I R 99 GRACIANNA 2013 Pinot Noir Bacigalupi Vineyard - Russian River Valley $52 (tasted 7/22/15) 99 KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS 2011 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard - Santa Lucia Highlands $45 This is an absolutely stunning wine! Perfectly balanced cherry, raspberry, strawberry and red plum aromas dance with hints of licorice, roasted dark coffee, black tea and savory oak. It’s had to find fault with anything here. It’s rich, sexy, superbly-balanced and wonderfully crafted. This wine exhibits what pinot noir should taste like from this region. 99 MOSSBACK 2011 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $25 99 ROBLEDO 2009 Pinot Noir Los Carneros $40 99 WILLOWBROOK 2020 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $24 (tasted 10/14/21) 99 WILLOWBROOK 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $24 (tasted 11/17/19) 99 WILLOWBROOK 2015 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard - Russian River Valley $42 Wow! If you want to know what a Russian River pinot should taste like, this is that pinot. This is a wine with character. Classic red fruit (cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry), a zesty, spicy body and a wonderful long, lingering finish that you wish would never end. Sensational! (tasted 7/15/18) 98 BLUE QUAIL 2014 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $24 (tasted 11/17/16) 98 BOGLE 2012 Pinot Noir California $12 98 BOGLE 2010 Pinot Noir California $11 98 BRUTOCAO 2012 Pinot Noir Slow Lope'N Vineyard - Anderson Valley $32 (tasted 5/22/15) 98 BRUTOCAO 2010 Pinot Noir Slow Lope'N Vineyard - Anderson Valley $32 You know from the moment you smell this wine that it’s gonna be great. Beautiful aromas of cherry, raspberry, cola, pepper spice and oak, with dollops of sandalwood and earth. Wonderfully-balanced, smooth and sexy, this wine is fresh, vibrant, and has great spicy character all the way through its finish. Superb! 98 CHIME 2014 Pinot Noir North Coast $20 (tasted 10/26/15) 98 EDUCATED GUESS 2012 Pinot Noir Carneros - Napa Valley $25 98 FLEUR 2011 Pinot Noir Carneros $18 98 GRACIANNA 2011 Pinot Noir Bacigalupi Vineyard - Russian River Valley $48 98 HAHN SLH 2011 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $35 98 HAHN SLH 2010 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $35 98 KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS 2012 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley $35 Classic raspberry, cherry, strawberry, plum, spice and light fig aromas supplemented with light minerals, vanilla and oak. Medium-bodied, well-balanced and a superb example of pinot noir from this region. Forward red fruit flavors with a nice dash of pepper spice that leads to a wonderfully long, silky-smooth finish. Excellent! 98 KUKERI 2013 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $42 Gorgeous cherry, raspberry, strawberry and pink grapefruit aromas nestled in pepper spice, vanilla and oak. This is a beautifully-crafter wine, with fresh fruit flavors fighting for attention with the vanilla and oak. The fruit wins out in the long run, so we think there’s just enough fruit and winemaking here to please everyone! (tasted 4/19/15) 98 LUCAS & LEWELLEN 2014 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County $20 (tasted 4/19/18) 98 MAC MURRAY 2010 Pinot Noir Reserve - Russian River Valley $27 98 MCMANIS 2013 Pinot Noir California $11 98 MEADOWCROFT 2013 Pinot Noir Cornerstone Vineyard; Carneros - Sonoma County $34 Cornerstone Vyd – Carneros – Sonoma County $34 Beautiful aromas of cherry, raspberry, strawberry, red grapefruit and plum, with a good dose of pepper and floral spices and oak. This is a stunning wine on the palate, with a great spicy character wrapped in fresh, ripe red fruit, and a long, long, lingering finish. Excellent! (tasted 3/4/15) 98 ROBLAR 2013 Pinot Noir Gold Collection - Santa Rita Hills $35 It doesn’t get much better than this from the Santa rita Hills! This is a wonderfully-smooth, sexy wine featuring rich red fruit flavors layered in pepper spice, leading to a finish that you wish would never end. Excellent! (tasted 3/28/15) 98 THOMAS GEORGE 2010 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $42 98 TWELFTH NIGHT 2012 Pinot Noir Central Otago - New Zealand $22 98 VALLEY OF THE MOON 2021 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $34 (tasted 10/20/22) 98 WILLOWBROOK 2015 Pinot Noir Kaufman Sunnyslope Vineyard - Sonoma Mountain $42 (tasted 6/25/18) 97 A & D 2013 Pinot Noir Napa Valley $20 From the moment you smell this wine you know you’re gonna love it! Pretty cherry, black raspberry, red plum and strawberry fruit engulfed in pepper spice, light floral elements and complements of vanilla and oak. This wine has great character. Everything you smell is delivered in a well-balanced, spicy body, that leans a bit toward the firm side of pinots, but ends in a nice, long, lingering, soft, spicy finish. (tasted 4/10/17) 97 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2012 Pinot Noir Mendocino $16 The nose offers nice dried cherry, raspberry and strawberry, with hints of cola, violets, pepper spice and oak. A little tight at first, if allowed to breathe this wine opens nicely, displaying all of the flavors expected, leading to a slightly firm lingering finish. 97 BRUTOCAO 2009 Pinot Noir Slow Lope'N Vineyard - Anderson Valley $28 Inviting aromas of dried cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cola, pepper spice and a dusting of minerals are complemented by touches of vanilla and oak. The wine is more vibrant on the palate, with all of the elements coming together in the beautiful lingering finish. 97 CHIME 2013 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills $30 (tasted 3/2/16) 97 CLAYPOOL CELLARS 2008 Purple Pachyderm Pinot Noir Hurst Vineyard - Russian River Valley $45 A smooth, sexy, well-balanced pinot noir, with wonderfully-delicious red fruit and pepper-spice flavors giving way to a long, lingering, velvety finish. Superb! 97 CLAYPOOL CELLARS 2008 Purple Pachyderm Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $42 97 CURRENCY 2018 Pinot Noir California $14 (tasted 12/9/19) 97 CURRENCY 2014 Pinot Noir California $11 (tasted 5/6/16) 97 CURVARE 2010 Pinot Noir Four Clone - Sonoma Coast $28 97 DOUBLE J RANCH 2013 Pinot Noir Carneros $20 Inviting cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas draw you in, with pepper spice, light vanilla and oak complementing. This is a wonderfully-balanced, medium-bodied, spicy wine that delivers on the fruit and secondary elements, leading to a nice long finish. (tasted 8/3/15) 97 EDUCATED GUESS 2015 Pinot Noir Carneros $25 (tasted 8/11/17) 97 FREI BROTHERS 2010 Pinot Noir Reserve - Russian River Valley $27 97 GALLO SIGNATURE SERIES 2010 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $35 97 GRACIANNA 2013 Pinot Noir Mercedes Riverblock - Russian River Valley $64 (tasted 7/22/15) 97 HAHN 2012 Pinot Noir California $14 97 HOOK & LADDER 2011 Pinot Noir Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $25 97 HOOK & LADDER 2009 Pinot Noir Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $25 97 KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS 2013 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard - Santa Lucia Highlands $40 (tasted 3/29/18) 97 LL LIMITED LOT 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $15 (tasted 6/8/21) 97 LUCAS & LEWELLEN 2014 Pinot Noir Goodchild High 9 Vineyard - Santa Maria Valley $35 (tasted 4/19/18) 97 MACMURRAY 2013 Pinot Noir Central Coast $23 (tasted 10/26/15) 97 MAGNOLIA (KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS) 2014 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $25 (tasted 3/29/18) 97 MCMANIS 2014 Pinot Noir California $11 (tasted 11/28/15) 97 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $20 Dried cherry, strawberry, raspberry and light blueberry aromas with a dash of pepper spice, floral notes and oak. This is a lighter style of pinot noir. But that’s not to say less flavor. This wine has a lot of flavor, character and spice, that leaves you wanting more after your last sip. (tasted 7/30/18) 97 MOSSBACK 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $25 (tasted 9/3/16) 97 PIN POINT 2015 Pinot Noir California $13 (tasted 9/2/16) 97 RALLY POINT 2013 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $38 (tasted 5/24/15) 97 REAPER 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $30 (tasted 10/26/15) 97 REPLICA 2014 Pinot Noir California $19 (tasted 3/2/16) 97 ROBLAR 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills $30 Pretty nose of cherry, raspberry, blueberry and plum, with light earth, pepper spice and oak. The palate offers a spicy body of red fruit flavors mingling with light earth and oak, leading to a long. Long, spicy finish. A wonderful wine! (tasted 3/28/15) 97 ROCK WALL 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $40 (tasted 9/2/17) 97 STATELAND CELLARS 2012 Pinot Noir Reserve - Santa Maria Valley $20 97 THE WINERY SF 2011 Pinot Noir North Coast $30 Beautiful aromas of dried cherries, raspberries, pink grapefruit, red apple and pepper spice wrapped in floral elements and hints of anise and herbs. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine is wonderfully balanced, possesses great spicy mouth-feel and has a long, lingering finish. 97 THOMAS HENRY 2013 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $18 Pretty cherry, raspberry, strawberry and cranberry aromas mingle with pepper spice, light vanilla and oak. This is a well-balanced, smooth, tasty pinot all the way from beginning through the long, spicy finish. At this price you should buy it by the case! (tasted 4/19/15) 97 THOMAS HENRY 2013 Pinot Noir Napa Valley $18 Very similar to the Sonoma County pinot, with basically the same aroma and flavor profiles. The difference is small, but this wine is a bit more austere (in a good way), with a hint more black cherry and black raspberry. Like the Sonoma County, it’s well-balanced and tasty all the way through the long, lingering finish. Buy this and the SC pinot and taste side by side. (tasted 4/19/15) 97 WILLOWBROOK 2018 Pinot Noir Kaufman Sunnyslope Vineyard - Sonoma Mountain $28 (tasted 2/15/21) 97 WILLOWBROOK 2017 Pinot Noir Kaufman Vineyard - Sonoma Mountain $24 (tasted 11/17/19) 97 WILLOWBROOK 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $24 (tasted 6/25/18) 97 WILLOWBROOK 2014 Pinot Noir Kaufman Sunnyslope Vineyard - Sonoma Mountain $42 Beautiful cherry, raspberry, pink grapefruit and touches of red currant nestled in pepper spice, light floral notes and kisses of van and oak. On the palate this wines shows a nice, spicy character, is well-balanced and crafted, with fresh, ripe fruit in a medium body leading to a long, long, lingering finish. (tasted 4/29/17) 96 BLOCK NINE 2013 Pinot Noir Caiden's Vineyards - California $11 (tasted 1/29/15) 96 BLUE QUAIL 2019 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $24 Tart cherry (cola), strawberry, candied blackberry and raspberry flavors start this wine off, with earthy (forest floor), mineral dust and spiced oak following. Light-to-medium-bodied, this wine is easy-drinking, very food-friendly, and a nice complement to any situation that arises. (tasted 5/17/21) 96 BLUE QUAIL 2013 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $19 Tart bing cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors start this wine off, with black tea/coffee, mineral dust and oak following. Medium-bodied, this wine is still young, with nice but tight-ish fruit flavors leading to a slightly sticky finish. It did open-up well overnight, so a little decanting and this wine should blossom. (tasted 3/14/15) 96 BOGLE 2013 Pinot Noir California $12 (tasted 6/6/15) 96 CHIME 2012 Pinot Noir Carneros - Sonoma $20 96 CIGAR BOX 2015 Pinot Noir Old Vine; Central Valley - Chile $12 (tasted 4/1/16) 96 CURRENCY 2018 Pinot Noir Lodi $14 (tasted 9/12/20) 96 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2017 Pinot Noir California $10 (tasted 3/4/19) 96 EDUCATED GUESS 2010 Pinot Noir Carneros $25 96 ELIZABETH ROSE 2009 Pinot Noir Napa Valley $18 Pretty aromas of cherries, raspberries, pink grapefruit and pepper spice wrapped in a kiss of floral and earth elements. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine is wonderfully balanced, possesses great mouth-feel and has a long lingering spicy finish. 96 EVEREARTH 2020 Pinot Noir California $15 Pretty aromas of dried cherry, strawberry, red raspberry, violets, rose petals, with hints of pepper spice, leather and oak. This is a medium-bodied, well-balanced, fruit-driven pinot, with a smooth, velvety texture all the way through the long, lightly spicy, touch of oak finish. (tasted 7/7/21) 96 FLEUR 2010 Pinot Noir Central Coast $15 96 FORIS 2012 Pinot Noir Rogue Valley - Oregon $20 Pretty nose of cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas draw you in, with pepper spice, light vanilla and oak complementing. This is a wonderfully-balanced, medium-bodied, spicy wine that delivers on the fruit and secondary elements, leading to a nice long finish. (tasted 3/4/16) 96 FOYT 2011 Pinot Noir No. 61 - Sonoma Coast $36 Dried cherry, raspberry, strawberry and red plum complemented by pepper spice, mineral dust and oak. This is a tasty medium-bodied wine, with nice dried fruit flavors, a zesty spiciness, and a well-balanced long finish. (tasted 3/4/15) 96 GOYETTE 2012 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $24 96 HAMDOG 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains $36 (tasted 1/15/21) 96 KRUTZ FAMILY CELLARS 2014 Pinot Noir Atkins Vineyard - Anderson Valley $35 (tasted 3/29/18) 96 LAYER CAKE 2014 Pinot Noir Central Coast $16 (tasted 1/25/16) 96 MCFADDEN 2013 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $19 Tart bing cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors start this wine off, with black tea/coffee, mineral dust and oak following. Medium-bodied, this wine is still young, with nice but tight-ish fruit flavors leading to a slightly sticky finish. It did open-up well overnight, so a little decanting and this wine should blossom. (tasted 3/14/15) 96 MEADOWCROFT 2023 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley $42 (tasted 6/3/24) 96 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2013 Pinot Noir Le Fou - Dry Creek Valley $30 Dried cherry, raspberry, pepper spice, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla and slightly nutty oak. This is a wonderfully-smooth wine with pretty fruit and secondary flavors leading to a spice-filled finish. There’s a slight hint of nuts on the tail end of the finish, which is kinda nice. (tasted 3/28/15) 96 MONT PELLIER 2012 Pinot Noir California $10 96 MOSSBACK 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $25 (tasted on 7/10/17) 96 MUMBO JUMBO 2018 Pinot Noir Central Coast $20 (tasted 11/4/20) 96 PEPIK (JOSEPH CHROMY) 2013 Pinot Noir Tasmania $30 (tasted 2/25/18) 96 PICO & VINE 2013 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $20 (tasted 3/15/15) 96 ROBLAR 2013 Pinot Noir California $10 Inviting cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas draw you in, with pepper spice, light vanilla and oak complementing. This is a wonderfully-balanced, medium-bodied, spicy wine that delivers on the fruit and secondary elements, leading to a nice long finish. Buy this by the case! (tasted 1/28/15) 96 ROCKBURN 2013 Pinot Noir Central Otago - New Zealand $45 (tasted 2/25/18) 96 SEAN MINOR 2016 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $22 A nose full of cherry, plum, raspberry and red apple with interesting layers of pepper spice, burnt caramel, roasted coffee/black tea, light earth, vanilla and oak. Fruit and pepper spice dominate the palate, with the secondary characteristics supporting the wine through its nice, long, lingering, spicy finish. (tasted 6/12/18) 96 STATELAND CELLARS 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County $15 Pretty nose of bing cherry, raspberry and red plum, with pepper spice and oak. True to the region, this wine offers a spicy body of red fruit flavors mingling with light earth and oak, leading to a long, spicy finish. A wonderful wine! (tasted 8/3/15) 96 WILLOWBROOK 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $24 (tasted 1/5/17) 95 BALLARD LANE 2017 Pinot Noir Central Coast $12 (tasted 8/5/18) 95 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2010 Pinot Noir Mendocino $16 Aromas of slightly dusty red fruit, cola, violets, pepper spice, coffee/tea and oak. A little tight at first, if allowed to breathe this wine opens nicely, displaying all of the flavors expected, leading to a slightly firm lingering finish. 95 CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC 2018 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 11/8/20) 95 CARSON SCOTT 2019 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 1/17/21) 95 CARSON SCOTT 2018 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 3/31/20) 95 CARSON SCOTT 2017 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 6/25/18) 95 CARSON SCOTT 2013 Pinot Noir North Coast $12 (tasted 1/5/17) 95 CHESSMAN 2013 Pinot Noir Santa Maria valley $15 (tasted 10/26/15) 95 EDUCATED GUESS 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $25 (tasted 11/18/19) 95 GOYETTE 2012 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $24 95 HAHN 2010 Pinot Noir Nicky Hahn - Santa Lucia Highlands $12 95 JOLIESSE 2017 Pinot Noir California $13 At first you get a lot of winemaking – oak, caramel, chocolate/toffee and vanilla. But as the wine opens those characteristics fade and the fruit takes over. This is a medium-bodied wine with good character if you let it open a bit, either in the glass or overnight. (tasted 2/17/19) 95 HOOK & LADDER 2008 Pinot Noir Third Alarm Reserve; Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $35 95 LONGVALE 2018 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 6/17/20) 95 LUCKY STAR 2014 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 2/1/17) 95 MAISON RICHE 2023 Pinot Noir Pays d'Oc - France $15 (tasted 9/19/24) 95 MATTHEW FRITZ 2014 Pinot Noir Carneros - Napa Valley $15 (tasted 6/24/16) 95 MCFADDEN 2012 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $24 Tart bing cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors start this wine off, with black tea/coffee, mineral dust and oak following. Medium-bodied, this wine is still young, with nice but tight-ish fruit flavors leading to a slightly sticky finish. It did open-up well overnight, so a little decanting and this wine should blossom. 95 MCMANIS 2012 Pinot Noir California $11 95 MEADOWCROFT 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast $42 (tasted 6/3/24) 95 MOSSBACK 2014 Pinot Noir Central Coast $18 (tasted 9/3/16) 95 POINT NORTH 2015 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley $22 Baked cherry, raspberry, ripe strawberry and light red plum fruit, with whiffs of cigar/tobacco/black tea, pepper spice, dusty minerals and light oak. Medium-bodied, this is a pinot you’d expect from Oregon. A slightly compact body, nice flavors, balance, and a shortish but spicy fruit/oak finish. (tasted 8/28/18) 95 PEDRONCELLI 2012 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $20 Nice aromas of violets, cedar, cherry, raspberry, pepper spice and toasted oak. On the palate this wine is a bit hard-edged at first, but opens to a pretty wine full of cherries, strawberries and raspberries, complemented by spice and floral notes, ending in a nice, long finish. Decant or let open a bit before enjoying. 95 PIN POINT 2018 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco $15 (tasted 12/9/19) 95 ROBLAR 2012 Pinot Noir Mission Ranch Vineyard - Arroyo Seco $30 Dried cherry, plum, raspberry , vanilla and oak are the first to jump from the glass, followed with spice, earth and light grape stems. On the palate this is a spicy, well-balanced wine with a slightly elevated VA characteristic that will bother some but not others. It does offer a nice, long, lingering, spicy finish. (tasted 3/28/15) 95 SEAN MINOR 2015 Pinot Noir Four Bears - Central Coast $16 A pretty nose fresh strawberry, raspberry, Bing cherry and plum, with accents of violets, pepper spice and light oak. On the palate, this wine has great character. It’s a medium-bodied, well-balanced and well-crafted pinot, with everything that the nose told you about leading to a long, lingering, spicy finish. (tasted 6/4/17) 95 SEBASTOPOL HILLS 2020 Pinot Noir California $18 (tasted 1/17/22) 95 STEPHEN VINCENT 2013 Pinot Noir California $15 Nice aromas of cherry, raspberry, plum, pepper spice and toasted oak. On the palate this wine is a bit hard-edged at first, but opens to a pretty wine full of cherries, plum and raspberries, complemented by clove/spice, burnt caramel and a good dose of oak, ending in a nice, long finish. (tasted 8/3/15) 95 THOMAS HENRY 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $20 Interesting nose of red cherry cola, strawberry, black raspberry, plum, and cranberry, complemented by pepper spice, some floral notes, light minerals, chocolate and toasty oak. On the palate this wine showcases the darker side of these fruits, along with a good dose of dark chocolate, pepper spice and oak on the long, lingering finish. (tasted 5/6/24) 95 VINUM "V" SERIES 2013 Pinot Noir Monterey $15 (tasted 2/9/15) 95 WILLOWBROOK 2014 Pinot Noir Estate - Russian River Valley $42 Classic RRV pinot nose of Bing cherry, fresh red raspberry, strawberry and pink grapefruit swimming in spices, cinnamon, light floral notes and dollops of oak. On the palate this is a medium-bodied, well-balanced wine, with a nice, soft mouthfeel leading through the long, lingering, spicy finish. (tasted 4/29/17) 94 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2013 Pinot Noir Mendocino $16 (tasted 5/22/15) 94 BLISS FAMILY VINEYARDS 2009 Pinot Noir Mendocino $16 Aromas of dried cherry, strawberry, raspberry and pepper spice, with some black tea/roasted coffee and oak. The wine is a bit more vibrant on the palate, with all of the elements coming together in the round, lingering finish. 94 STEPHEN VINCENT 2014 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 4/28/17) 94 WILD HARE 2012 Pinot Noir California $10 93 BLOCK NINE 2019 Pinot Noir Caiden's Vineyards - California $14 (tasted 8/10/20) 93 BLOCK NINE 2016 Pinot Noir Caiden's Vineyards - California $14 (tasted 8/27/17) 93 BLUE QUAIL 2017 Pinot Noir Potter Valley - Mendocino $24 (tasted 8/19/19) 93 CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC 2019 Pinot Noir California $18 (tasted 3/6/21) 93 FORIS 2010 Pinot Noir Rogue Valley - Oregon $13.50 93 LION'S RIDGE 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve - Central Coast $25 (tasted 6/7/23) 93 LION'S RIDGE 2019 Pinot Noir Santa Maria - Santa Barbara County $18 (tasted 11/20/21) 93 QUASAR 2016 Pinot Noir Limited Edition; Leyda Valley - Chile $30 A nose full of fresh, young cherry, berry, raspberry, strawberry and red grapefruit, nestled in light chalk/mineral dust, spice and light oak. At this stage, this wine is like a closed rose. Give it some time and it should open nicely displaying more fruit to combat the calk/mineral elements and oak backbone. Still, not a bad drink now. (tasted 6/8/17) 93 WILLOWBROOK 2016 Pinot Noir Kaufman Sunnyslope Vineyard - Sonoma Mountain $42 Just like the Willowbrook 2017 Napa Valley chard, there’s like a lot of winemaking getting in the way of the fruit and secondary characteristics. Which is too bad because the red fruit and spice underneath really wants to come out and be the stars. This wine did open up nicely the next day (left overnight without preservation system), so maybe with decanting the fruit and spice in this wine might prevail. (tasted 6/3/19) 93 WINE TO WATER 2012 Pinot Noir Mendocino $15 (tasted 1/20/15) 92 A&D 2013 Pinot Noir Napa Valley $17 (tasted 6/30/17) 92 BLOCK NINE 2014 Pinot Noir Caiden's Vineyards - California $13 (tasted 8/3/15) 92 CABLE CAR 2011 Pinot Noir California $10 92 CARA MIA 2013 Pinot Noir Delle Venezie - Italy $11 (tasted 10/26/15) 92 CARA MIA NV Pinot Noir IGT; Delle Venezie - Italy $22/3L (tasted 10/26/15) 92 CURRENCY 2015 Pinot Noir Reserve - California $11 (tasted 6/3/17) 92 FRENCH PRESS 2012 Pinot Noir France $12 92 INSATIABLE 2011 Pinot Noir California $10 92 JOLIESSE 2018 Pinot Noir California $12 (tasted 2/27/20) 92 PIN POINT 2019 Pinot Noir Lodi $15 (tasted 3/24/219) 92 PIN POINT 2018 Pinot Noir Lodi $15 (tasted 9/12/20) 92 STEPHEN VINCENT 2017 Pinot Noir California $12 (tasted 4/30/19) 92 THOMAS HENRY 2011 Pinot Noir Napa County $22 Dried dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry and plum, with some earth and floral notes, spice and oak. Medium-bodied, this wine has some nice red fruit flavors, spice and a long, lingering finish. 92 THOMAS HENRY 2011 Pinot Noir Sonoma County $22 Dried dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry and plum, with some minerals, sandalwood, and floral notes, spice and oak. Medium-bodied, this wine has some nice red fruit flavors, spice and a long, lingering finish. 92 WILLOWBROOK 2015 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $21 Inviting cherry, strawberry and raspberry aromas draw you in, with pepper spice, light vanilla and oak complementing. This wine has a lot of character, is a wonderfully-balanced, medium-bodied, spicy wine that delivers all of the fruit and secondary elements, leading to a nice, long finish. (tasted 4/29/17) 91 CARSON SCOTT 2020 Pinot Noir California $18 (tasted 1/17/22) 91 CONTEMPO 2015 Pinot Noir IGT delle Venezie - Italy $10 (tasted 11/1/16) 91 LONGVALE 2019 Pinot Noir California $15 (tasted 1/17/21) 91 LUCKY STAR 2013 Pinot Noir California $9 (tasted 3/15/15) 91 MOSSBACK 2014 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $25 Typical Russian River Valley red fruit aromas of cherry, raspberry, bing cherry and red plum wrestle with cola, chocolate and barrel spice. On the palate the fresh red fruit is dusted with dirt and chalk, which shortens the wine to a slightly sticky, chewy finish. (tasted 1/6/17) 90 A & D 2018 Pinot Noir North Coast $20 (tasted 7/25/20) 90 A & D 2016 Pinot Noir North Coast $15 Typical red and black fruit aromas, some pepper spice and floral notes deeply embedded in chocolate, vanilla and oak. On the palate this wine almost comes across sweet, with black cherry, black plum, raspberry and wild berry flavors giving way to a lot of winemaking (vanilla and oak). It’s an interesting wine, and for $15 worth a try. (tasted 12/27/17) 90 CHIME 2013 Pinot Noir California $13 (tasted 10/26/15) 90 CHIME 2011 Pinot Noir California $12 90 CONTEMPO 2019 Pinot Noir Cachapoal Valley - Chile $10 (tasted 4/30/20) 90 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2020 Pinot Noir California $13 (tasted 7/1/22) 90 CYCLES GLADIATOR 2018 Pinot Noir California $13 (tasted 9/10/21) 90 EAGLE CANYON 2013 Pinot Noir California $13 (tasted 6/6/15) 90 LIMITED LOT 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $17 (tasted 2/18/24) 90 LIMITED LOT 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $17 No mistaking Russian River Valley aromas of cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry and pink grapefruit, with floral notes, spice and light oak. A beautiful start to this medium-bodied wine, giving you the fruit you expect in a zesty, pepper-spice body, but then it hits a wall of chalky, chewiness that prohibits any lingering finish. We let this wine sit out a few days to see if it mellowed, but it did not. Despite its age, the fruit and spice is there, but the finish is hard and disappointing. (tasted 9/29/23) 90 LOUIS CHANGARNIER 2012 Pinot Noir Pays d'Oc - France $13 90 MAISON RICHE 2022 Pinot Noir IGP; Pays d'Oc - France $14 (tasted 5/14/23) 90 MICHEL-SCHLUMBERGER 2016 Pinot Noir California $10 (tasted 6/12/18) 90 RASCAL NV Pinot Noir Oregon $13 (tasted 3/2/16) 90 SIX DEGREES 2011 Pinot Noir California $14