David L

9.4

16’ Hartford Court Jennifer's Vineyard Chardonnay. Vineyard is located in Sebastopol Hills in Russian river.
As of late. I’ve noticed California Chardonnay’s have changed for the better. Now they have power and finesse. Which I absolutely adore. This is a perfect example of just that.
It’s a balance beam act of pear, slightly more citrusy fruits then I picked up in there other single vineyards. A bit of spice & the right amount of acidity. Very well-made wine. Something I wouldn’t age. Drink them all up by 2022. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a $30 retail Chardonnay that just hit K&L this week at $14.99. To quote Ralph their Senior Buyer who buys their Bordeaux wines, “The best screaming deal in richly styled California Chardonnay I've tasted in my 40 years here. When I tasted this here at my desk with our buyer Ryan Woodhouse, I said to myself, wow this is very good, expensive Chardonnay.”

The nose shows big, round richness. Lots of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice, volcanic minerals, good presence of nice chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies.

The palate is, round, rich and phat. It’s beautiful over the palate. Loads of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit with apricots dominating, slight notes of honey, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice with some palate heat, grainy volcanic minerals, good presence of; beautiful, moist, powdery chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies. The acidity is round and voluptuous. The long, rich finish is; elegant, well balanced, hedonistic and persists minutes.

Nice to see a newer release California wine at 13.4% ABV.

Drinks nicely even beyond its full retail price!

A little background on their Winemaker, Dan Fitzgerald. Dan cut his teeth as Brack Mountain’s founding Winemaker. Prior to that, he worked with Winemaker Bob Cabral at Williams Selyem Winery in the Russian River Valley, rounding out his trifecta of Pinot noir and Chardonnay winemaking. Also, had experience at James Halliday’s Coldstream Hills Winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard was planted by the Pisoni Family and sits adjacent to the famous Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. The vineyard has been in their family for three generations. “Mountain Sea” translates in Spanish to Sierra Mar. The vineyard sits just over 1000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Photos of, the barrels this vineyard is fermented, WineMaker Dan Fitzgerald and their Sierra Mar Vineyard. — 6 years ago

with James and Christina

Denny Marin

9.1

Really impressed with everything I've tried from this new Larry Stone project. While the Avni Chard I feel is a tad bit more Burgundian, this beautifully bright appellation pinot was bursting with red fruit and showed great depth for it's level. My only knock on it is that it reminded me more of a Russian River pinot than one from Eola Amity. — 8 years ago

Matthew Davison

9.0

A new release. Part of the "Cooperage Series" for the 2015 vintage. This is my first experience with 100% Russian oak... I'm in love! — 8 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.0

Rasp, cherry, plum, stems, some dried green herbs and Russian caravan tea. Not bad — 8 years ago

Steven Sarkisian

9.0

Almost a dessert wine, the nose is of candied fruit with sweet pomegranate, plum and cherry and earth flavors. The label is of the ruins of a chapel in Ireland near where Owen Roe costumed the colors of the English Army in 1646. Very cool. — 9 years ago

Louis Martin

8.9

Gifted to us at Palomar Hotel in Beverly Hills. Decent bottle, pairs well with Manchego cheese and fruit. — 6 years ago

Donald Patz

Owner/Winemaker Patz & Hall

9.0

A BTG offering at Angèle and what a delight. Pleasant Hill - aka JENKINS RANCH - is a proven Pinot Noir site in the as yet unofficial “Sebastopol Hills” area of Russian River Valley AVA. 2014 with 3-4 years of bottle time is bridging youthful juiciness with a flicker of aged character. Nice work — 6 years ago

Tyler Stephens

9.0

Doesn’t suck, higher profile similar of Santa Lucia Highlands / Rita Hills. Much great — 7 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.1

Second stop in Sonoma with Andrew Berge of Spell Estate, La Pitchoune and Tiny House to name a few. The next single vineyard Pinot Noir is the Umino Vineyard from the Sebastopol Hills of the Russian River Valley AVA. It is aged in 33% new French oak and only 49 cases produced.

Deep ruby red with a purplish core. Dark floral notes on the attack of the nose followed by crushed gravel and dark raspberries. Medium plus acidity (7/10) and medium plus bodied. Rich palate with dark cherries, cigar box and a little earthy. Dry and long finish. Needs a bit of time to round out. Drink till 2027. $$ — 7 years ago

with India

Bill Bishop

9.2

This special bottling from the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard from 1992 is very nice. Drank with Williams Seylem 1988 Russian River Valley. The Signature wine was a light lighter and elegant. Grad now and ready to drink at 25 years old. Drink up. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.3

Always a special treat to attend the Wednesday Wine Committee. The hosts always bring out excellent wines!

Probably the best Oregon Pinot I've ever tasted. People thought it was a Russian River Valley Pinot with all the cola on it. Very dense. Excellent showing from Oregon! — 8 years ago

with Benjamin and Weston

Dick Phillips

9.2

Smooth very fruitful. Luv it — 9 years ago

Tim L

9.2

Almost great just really good full-bodied balanced and refined full flavor Russian River single vineyard vino. — 6 years ago

Keith Keltner

8.9

Smooth and thirst quenching — 6 years ago

Tim L

9.4

Another great Siduri Pinot from Russian River, Clos Pepe Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills 2017! Wine club delivery single vineyard. Big body dark berry supple full flavor with a subtle touch of brightness that enhances palate balance...maybe best yet...has it all... — 6 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2014 vintage. Biodynamically farmed Maboroshi vineyard in Sebastopol Hills, the Southern part of the Russian River Valley AVA. Goldridge soils. Beautiful nose with red berries, griottes, violets, subtle spices and a hint of strawberry jam. Elegant and energetic in the mouth with deliciously pure red fruit, fresh acidity, velvety tannin and good depth. Perfectly integrated oak. Terrific value. — 7 years ago

Adam Hasten

9.1

What I wanted it to be. Light smooth but not bland...reminds me of Russian River pinots. — 8 years ago

Christine Havens

9.1

A deep plunge, Ellipsis’ 2013 Red Hills Lake County Petit Sirah is subdued on the nose. What it lacks in aromatic intensity, it makes up for on the palate. The effect is enveloping—a surge of black fruit, powerful and baritone in tempo, shot through with swirling embers, dried herbs, cedar, spice and a well-structured acidic heartwood. 15.3% ABV | Sample — 8 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.4

Aldler Fels 2014 The Eagle Rock Pinot Noir, made by winemaker Aaron Bader, is a beauty. Bader calls the making of good Pinot is “both a physical and mental exercise.” He’s not shy about tooting his own bottle. “It's sexy, luscious, with that sweet perfume, a hint of maple syrup, and lush fruit.” Maple syrup? I can have that for breakfast!
For this wine, he blended three-quarters Sta. Rita Hills Pinot from Santa Barbara County and one-quarter grapes from the Russian River Valley.
The Pinot is hefty and dark, with a nose that exudes black raspberry, black olive, coffee, tea and anise. Maple syrup? Well, now that it's in my head, it's in my nose. On the palate, wow. Ripe fruit, those olives, black tea and black pepper. The savory angle continues into the finish and carries plenty of sweet oak spice with it. — 8 years ago