Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars – Reserve – Pinot Noir / 2024
Russian River Valley – Sonoma County – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A step up in intensity and depth from the 2023 vintage, this 2024 Reserve Pinot Noir delivers a more expressive and layered profile while maintaining the signature balance of Russian River Valley. A vintage that leans slightly more powerful, yet remains polished and precise.

Aromas & Flavors
More pronounced and aromatic than the previous vintage, deep red cherry, black cherry, and raspberry lead, followed by baking spice, subtle vanilla, and a touch of earthy undertones. The nose is lifted, expressive, and immediately engaging.

Mouthfeel
Medium+ body with greater depth and presence. The texture is silky yet more structured than 2023, with refined tannins and vibrant acidity providing lift and direction. The finish is longer, more persistent, and confidently balanced.

Food Pairings
Duck breast, roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, grilled salmon, or herb-driven dishes with earthy components.

Verdict
A more impactful and expressive evolution of the 2023 vintage. Enhanced aromatics, deeper flavor concentration, and a longer finish make this a standout while preserving elegance and drinkability.

🍷 Did You Know?
Vintage variation in Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is heavily influenced by fog patterns and temperature swings—small shifts can significantly impact aromatic intensity and flavor depth, as clearly reflected in this 2024 vintage.

🍷 Personal Pick
This one hits different. Being part of this vintage during my time at Amici Cellars (wine boot camp), it adds a layer of connection that goes beyond the glass. More aromatic, deeper, and more expressive than the 2023, this is a vintage I experienced from both sides, and it shows beautifully.
— 14 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Amici Cellars – El Diablo Vineyard Chard - 2020. Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
From the esteemed El Diablo Vineyard perched along the eastern ridges of the Russian River Valley AVA, this 2020 Chardonnay is a beautiful testament to both site and vintage. Using small-berried Wente clone fruit, this single-vineyard bottling delivers a compelling balance of freshness, richness, and regional finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
The nose unfolds with savory brioche and pineapple juice aromas, leading into a palate that echoes with piña colada and banana cream pie, all carrying through to a lingering finish.

Mouthfeel
Texturally rich yet dynamic, this wine showcases a mouthwatering interplay of freshness and acidity, its savory core holding structure while allowing the orchard and tropical fruit elements to bloom.

Verdict
This 2020 Amici El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay delivers single-vineyard character with finesse, layered, textural, and elegantly savory. The balance of piña colada richness and citrus freshness speaks to both the vintage’s warmth and the vineyard’s refined site expression. A showcase Chardonnay that exemplifies the Sonoma Russian River Valley’s renowned versatility and depth. Cheers!

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Loved the finish as it was elegant and persistent, echoing tropical sweetness and pastry-driven flavors against a backdrop of subtle savory depth. Additionally, the lingering citrus and stone fruit lift, is very inviting while it's minerality with some nutty undertones lend a compelling complexity. — 7 months ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

when in doubt I drink pinot, mostly similar at a certain price point..
like this cherryish, light tannins, color moderate. — 18 days ago

joe mama

9.0

Clalssic napa cabernet. Been awhile. Berry juicy! — a month ago

Nishith Jobanputra

9.0

Textbook Napa cab. — 5 months ago

Alan Cooke

9.1

Awesome Pic at Central Market Dallas! — 8 months ago

Alan Hyde

9.0

Nicely balanced oak — 9 months ago

Joe Fischer

9.3

Dark ruby with blueberries, black currant, dark cherry, oak, and smoke. Tannins in control, smooth with a long finish. Great with our Ribeyes and Meat Church Cowboy butter! Very Nice! — 20 days ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Celebrating 15 year anniversary! Drinking beautifully after a 30 min decant. Brickish coloring. Very traditional tasting notes...subdued red fruits with tobacco and earthy notes. Tannins have mellowed but are still present. Have several more so I'll be updating this annually now! Drank at Amici byob in Cherry Hill, NJ (excellent food and service!). — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Olema Pinot Noir 2022
Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced across premier Sonoma sub-appellations. Olema is part of Amici Cellars, known for delivering high quality at everyday approachable price points. Sonoma Pinot Noir often leans toward lush fruit with a soft structure compared to the more restrained Burgundian style.

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits dominate—ripe cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate—layered with subtle spice, clove, and a touch of cola. There’s a delicate hint of rose petals and forest floor rounding out the aromatic profile.

Mouthfeel
Silky and medium-bodied with fine tannins, bright acidity, and a smooth, fruit-forward finish. Very approachable and polished, made to be enjoyed young.

Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak (a small percentage new) to preserve freshness while adding just a hint of structure and spice.

Food Pairing
Perfect alongside roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared salmon, or even charcuterie. Its freshness makes it versatile with both lighter and savory dishes.

Verdict
A crowd-pleasing Sonoma Pinot Noir—ripe, polished, and balanced. It offers exceptional value for its region, delivering elegance and approachability in one glass. — 7 months ago