Vanessa

9.1

Sandhi, Sanford & Benedict, Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Noir, 2016, ABV 13.5%.

This Pinot Noir comes from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County in the Central Coast region of California. Despite California having generally a Mediterranean climate, due to its westerly location, Sta. Rita Hills AVA receives cooling maritime and fog influences from the Pacific Ocean, aiding in the preservation of acidity, lending balance, finesse, and elegance to the resulting wine.

This wine is medium ruby with a medium(+) intensity of youthful aromas. The aromas include primary notes of candied cherry, strawberry rhubarb, orange peel, violet, tulip, mint, wet stone, white pepper, secondary notes of nutmeg, and tertiary notes of earth and wet leaves.

On the palate this wine is dry, with medium(+) acidity, a medium body, medium alcohol, delicate tannin, and medium(+) intensity in flavors consistent with the nose. This wine has a medium(+) finish.

This is a beautiful wine with a strong fruit character and expression. It is well-balanced and offers concentrated aromatics and flavors and nice complexity. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Naoki Otani

9.0

12.26.2019 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

My last bottle! From a hillside vineyard on an eastern slope on the second ridge from the Pacific Ocean. Deep Ruby with subtle aromas of red fruits and peppery spices, aging softened the aromas a bit. The palate shows raspberry and cherry with flavorful spices. Vivid acidity with super soft tannins with an earthy feel. Lingering finish with ripe oaky notes, minerality and earthy tones. Aged well, drink now! Very nice! — 6 years ago

Joshua Fisher

9.1

The best pairing in California is the pacific and a Sonoma coast Pinot.
There not a better place or better food or better combination of any sort than this. Pair wine with places to drink them. Food is a second thought , always a second thought to place and company kept. — 6 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.2

Light reddish purple with amber rim. Aromas of cherry pie and spearmint with hints of damp earth and cloves. Medium bodied with intense cherry flavor, bright acidity, and 14.3% alcohol. Sourced from a vineyard planted in 2000 to 100% Swan clone on a coastal ridge at about 900 feet elevation 5 miles from the Pacific Coast in sandy loam soils. 10% whole clusters included then aged 25 months in seasoned French oak barrels. This is a lovely Sonoma Coast appellation Pinot. $55. — 7 years ago

with Kelly

Maddy Graham

9.7

Light, slight fruity flavor, tannic flavor is there but not overwhelming — 8 years ago

Erica Gamble

9.0

Smooth with good depth of flavor. — 8 years ago

Pablo Cetlinski

10

One of few wineries that have the grape in California. Breaths the Pacific breeze and is growing on the soil sanctified by Russian Orthodox chapel. — 4 years ago

Chris Koupal

9.5

Fantastic- absolutely everything you want in a Sonoma county Pinot. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

8.9

medium ruby, amber rim; red cherry, leather; sour cherry; light bodied, light tannins, high acidity, 13.1% ABV; sourced from a ridge only 4 miles away from the Pacific Ocean; opened up and drank better on the second day; $49 — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Last bottle, had a bottle about a year ago, aged nicely. Their vineyard is a few miles away from the Pacific Ocean and aged, in French Oak, about 1/3 new, deep ruby with black fruit aromas and earthy floral spice notes. On the palate, soft raspberry, black cherry and blueberry flavors, rich and complex with integrated spice and oak. Smooth tannins with good balance of juicy acidity still has room to age. Lingering mineral finish, an outstanding wine. A real pleasure, wish I had more! — 6 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.2

Vineyard is 14 miles from Pacific Ocean. Classic Pinot Noir that tastes like it should. Vanilla caramel notes and smooth finish — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.2

The Migration label first appeared in 2001 as the second label of Goldeneye, both under the Duckhorn masthead, first focusing on Pinot Noir and later adding Chardonnay. Like Paraduxx to Duckhorn, it is no longer a second label, but a winery unto itself. In 2008 Migration, and by extension, Duckhorn, produced its first Chardonnay. In 2009 they produced their first Chardonnay from the legendary Charles Heintz Vineyard. The Charles Heintz Vineyard is located just outside of the town of Occidental where Charlie’s family has farmed the land for over 100 years. Two ridges in, and only about 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyard is situated in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA. Heintz has become one of the most famous Chardonnay sites in California, with notable producers including Ceritas, DuMol, Freeman, Flowers, L'Angevin, Kosta Browne, Littorai, Migration/Duckhorn, Moone-Tsai, Pierson Meyer, and Williams Selyem. With its classic Goldridge sandy loam soils, and located just above the fog line, the vineyard receives abundant sunshine and cool ocean breezes. Super mellow Chardonnay, with candied orchard fruit, honeysuckle, wet stone, and some secondary hazelnut, with just a flutter of mushroom in the background. — 8 years ago

Scott Rowe

8.9

Fairly ripe for my taste. But good acid makes it enjoyable. — 9 years ago

Jonas Johansson

9.0

Some how I keep on pouring my glass with this one. Will buy more. — 5 years ago

Severn Goodwin

9.4

Nose has cedar-y blueberry-blackberry jam, crushed raspberry, newly paved highway, light metallic undertones with minor alcohol heat.

Palate has blackberry jam, white pepper, dried blueberry, blueberry sauce and big chalky tannins. Massive structure, no doubt, this wine needs another 10+ minimum. Yet, delicious tonight. 5h decant. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.0

medium golden yellow; muted, lemon zest, wet stone; saline, stone fruit; medium bodied, good acid backbone, 14.1% ABV; sourced from vineyard on bluff 5 miles from Pacific Ocean, whole cluster pressed and fermented in seasoned French oak, made by owner/winemaker Kurt Beitler, grandson of Charlie Wagner and nephew of Chuck Wagner co-founders of Caymus Vineyards; $45 — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

From the first certified Biodynamic winery in New Zealand comes this estate single vineyard Chenin Blanc. Bright acidity balanced nicely by subtle sweetness and very faint saltiness. Textured, almost waxy. Good tension on the finish.

This single vineyard Chenin Blanc is one of the “1001 wines to try before you die” published by Penguin 2008. I don’t know about that, but this 2016 vintage is certainly a beauty. Gisborne is located in the east coast of the North Island very close to the Pacific. — 7 years ago

P A

9.7

The label says “hops, hops and more hops” I say yes to the hops but with a smooth blending of malts. Crisp, clean, intense aroma with a well balanced long satisfying taste this award winning IPA is the brewmaster’s choice. I say it’s just damn good. I believe that it is available on the USA Pacific coast. 6.5 % alc./vol. 80 IBU Cheers 🍻🇨🇦 — 7 years ago

Cassie Hunter

9.1

Nicely done..smooth, light bodied and easy to drink — 8 years ago