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

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! — 9 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.0

Rasp, cherry, plum, stems, some dried green herbs and Russian caravan tea. Not bad — 9 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

Kippy Ingram

9.4

Drank at Blue Hills farm,l. Rich, deep butter, full flavored. Delicious. — 9 years ago

Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

9.5

Awesome Cali Chard that drinks like Grand Cru White Burgundy. 2013 is another awesome year! Tropical fruits with just a kiss of oak. Treating my daughter and future on the back deck at home! Vine Hills Best from Kistler. CB 95+ — 10 years ago

with Michael and Steph

Fredrik Bergström

9.0

Utvecklad doft med röda bär och undervegetation. Toner av rök och och svamp. — 10 years ago

Elizabeth Griswold

8.9

Day 2, really feminine & pretty. Sour cherry palate, touch of cola. Lost the vanilla bean from yesterday, still finishing sweet. Lovely restrained Russian River. — 11 years ago

David Wanek

9.3

Tastes like Russian River Pinot to me. Full bodied and really tasty. — 11 years ago

Jonathan Van Gorp

9.0

August Hills — 11 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 — 9 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. — 9 years ago

Dr.Meandor

8.9

Tasted 22/05/2015

Wonderful specimen - rich, thrilling, fleshy.
Composed of different selections of Pinot Noir, grown on plots in terraces over 14 ha winery has at hills of Zion. 
Dark cherry red colour, crimson rim. Oily legs.
Splendid nose of chocolate, brine, squeezed strawberry, cassis, tobacco, black currant, blue fig.
Silky medium-plus palate of hackish balance. Velvety tannins. Embracing flavors of black cherry liquor, black gooseberry, strawberry jam, black currant marmalade.
Noble lingering finish...
Paired to beef tenderloin with Russian sauce. — 9 years ago

Erin Morgan

9.0

Very soft, bright cherry flavor. — 9 years ago

Tom Wood

8.9

Mean acidity, juiced pear. — 10 years ago

Teresa Christovich

8.9

Light and crisp Pinot noir — 10 years ago

Marshall Lake

9.0

Reminiscent of an Oregon Pinot Noir from the Dundee hills region, while still maintaining that classic, Californian fruit forward approach. Ripe red fruits like strawberry, cherry, and pomegranate. A fair amount of mineralality and oaked flavor too. Could easily lay for another 5 years + — 10 years ago

Jonathan Cristaldi

Writer First We Feast, LA Magazine, SOMM Journal

9.3

We give this: red cranberry, licorice, vanilla, clove, earth and dark cherry finish. This is some full body and it is rich like Beverly Hills. — 11 years ago

Bill Wilhelm

9.2

Doesn't compare to the Grgich Hills. Buttery. — 12 years ago

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

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! — 9 years ago

with Benjamin and Weston

Dick Phillips

9.2

Smooth very fruitful. Luv it — 9 years ago

Nick Berry

9.3

love it even more 4th time around- can't wait for next year's! A cross of Semillon and Gewurztraminer... — 9 years ago

Taryn Perry

9.0

Bought this a few years back. Has aged well. Not as smooth as a Russian River Pinot Noir, but good for Santa Rita Hills. — 10 years ago

Steve Watkins

9.1

Excellent Pinot, Christmas dinner in Chapel Hill. — 10 years ago

Rob Owen

9.4

Surprisingly good for a chard! Not too buttery, not too dry. — 10 years ago

Gahl Rinat

9.2

Sweet like honey. Like a russian cake. — 11 years ago

Joshua Crisp

9.0

Dundee nose of red, spicy fruit, peppercorn, basil, and dry, Jory soil. Soil and field mushrooms greet the tongue, with black cherries and Tiger lilies following. The wine ends with hints of cedar and Russian black tea, but a little more alcoholic on the finish on the second day. — 11 years ago

Richard Hwang

9.7

Maria liked it — 12 years ago