Michelle M

9.5

Golden and Opal apples, Bartlett pear, lemon zest, red grapefruit in the bouquet. Tart green apple, buttered toast, lemon pith, white peach, soft notes of zesty ginger gives a nice zippiness on the finish along side hints of almond oil on a medium length finish. Strong lemony yellow color with a rich, opulent yet refreshing mouthfeel with a pleasant linger. Great white wine — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 2017 Para Maria de los Tecolotes, a blend of Syrah and Petit Verdot, is pliant and energetic, with terrific balance and tons of sheer appeal. Dark red fruit, spice and wild flowers all develop in this forward, inviting wine from Stolpman. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2019) — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a young wine that I opened last weekend and enjoyed but, had to seal it up and put back into storage until tonight. It’s a touch faded (10%) but, like all young wine, resilient.

The nose reveals, ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spices, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, hints of dry crushed rocks, limestone, dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender.

The body is full with a fair amount of tannin presence. Nicely knitted structure, tension, length and balance for such a young Pinot. Ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of cooked rhubarb, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spice with shades of palate heat, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, saline notes, dry herbs, menthol, eucalyptus, hints of dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, dry & moist clay, limestone, leathery, wood staves, amazing dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The ripe, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

Paul makes beautiful expressions of Pinot, Rhône styles & Chardonnay. If you have not had them, well worth your time & investment to seek out.

Photos of; his Sierra Madre Vineyard...netted to keep the birds from eating his fruit, fruit near harvest time, my picture meeting Paul for the first time last week weekend at a “Matter of Taste” in Napa last weekend and their barrel room. — 6 years ago

Derek McKellar

9.2

With Alex in West Lake village — 7 years ago

Ryan Johnson

9.5

Magnum bottle - this was silky with dark boysenberry, celery and white pepper. Perfect Thanksgiving wine with nicely tart acidity. In a perfect place right now. — 8 years ago

Carson

9.0

Best SB #qpr I've ever had. Very crisp with subtle floral notes and a biting acidity complete with notes of lemon and honeydew. Gotta get the SBs in before fall arrives. Not disappointed in what will likely be my last of the year. — 9 years ago

Dan Michael

9.2

Wow, the best Chardonnay I've tasted in a while, rich like lemon custard with a clean citrus pith finish, awesome with our grilled salmon and morel pasta,
Superb! — 9 years ago

Marelina Wilford

9.2

Wes kills it every time! Pairs great with meat lasagna. Brought out the spices in the wine. — 4 years ago

Neal Schaffer

9.0

This was a sneaky ghosted wedding gift. Pretty nose with ripe cherries, candied plums, pork loin, earl gray tea, potpourri, dark chocolate shavings, graphite, and ash. Mid-palate is juicy, fleshy and bright. The finish shows creamy red fruits centered in minerality and earth. You can grab this at $19.99, which is a steal for a quality Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Cheers! — 6 years ago

with Dana

David L

9.4

14’ Au Bon Climat Knox Alexander Pinot Noir. Decant this for 15 minutes. Cherry & raspberry subtle dryness with the background of light /modest spices & tea. Beautiful balance after a short time in the decanter. Just a great showing of this PN wine. Open this now...enjoy over the next 5 +years. WOW., time will only bring out it’s best . Jim , still is making exceptional wine for the money! Cheers. — 6 years ago

David L

9.3

13’ Au Bon Climat Nuits- Blanches Au Bouge (On That Road Again) Chardonnay.
Decant this for 30 minutes. Honestly I’ve really never had a Chardonnay quite like this one.

Baked apple, lemon, lime, white flowers,definite oak treatment. It all seems to work. Truly an enjoyable wine. Jim has been making outstanding wines for 35+ years. Reasonably priced and delicious. Could possibly get even better with another year in bottle.
— 7 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.2

This wine is magic with age. What seems like over the top, more-is-more when young mellows and knits into a compelling, balanced, complex and long tasty drink of a wine. I'm always astounded at the change in the bottle, and the '09 is just finding its moment. And hey, California Aligoté in there, so that's cool too. — 8 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Strawberry nose. Cooked strawberry in the glass. Low alcohol and classic California fruit. Fruit forward but well balanced with good acidity. A good one for a great price if you like this style. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Over 30 years ago, Tim Murphy, Dale Goode and Dave Ready founded their three-family partnership in 1985 & launched the brand with two wines: estate grown Fumé Blanc and Chardonnay. Crisp aromas of citrus fruits, Blend of 96% Sauvignon Blanc & 4% Semillon. Palate crisp fresh furry fruit flavors with some peach & melon. Medium finish, lively acidity ending with citrus tones. Nice value. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This wine was recorked to enjoy 24 hours later. The spoils enjoyed today! Garnet colored wine. Bright acidity start to finish. Bien Nacido and has all that weedy, fig, ash character. Raspberry backbone. Very intricate in the middle with herbs and spice. Sweet yet somewhat tart finish. This is going to probably improve a bit over the next year or two. Has great structure and acidity. — 6 years ago

with Benjamin and Shay

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1986 by Josep-Maria Raventos, member of the Codorníu family, creating a small, quality-oriented winery standing apart from the large co-ops. A blend of 40% Xarel-lo, 36% Macabeu, 18% Parellada, 6% Monastrell. Red berry and floral aromas with fine bubbles. On the palate strawberry and cherry with mineral yeasty notes on the lingering finish, good balance. Hand harvested and secondary fermentation rests for 15 months before disgorgement. A nice bargain. Tasting Sample. — 7 years ago

Chris B.

9.0

Really good but just a tiny bit too alcoholic to be great; I’m betting it will get there in a few years. Pottery and car leather along with burning sandalwood make up the gorgeous nose. Had it with a meat ragu and even used some to make the sauce. — 7 years ago

Marissa A. Ross

Wine Editor, Bon Appétit

9.0

If Sour Punch Straws came in the flavor of “Sunshine in April,” with thyme and coarse sea salt. From the bottle it tastes just like ”adult” lemonade, a term I despise but must accept when it is fact. — 8 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

My last bottle of this low alcohol (12.7) PN from 2011 has held up beautifully. Ripe cherry, fresh oregano leaves, and slate like minerals in the nose. Lots of gravel and sous bois initially give way to dark cherry fruit with a gunflint minerality. Great balance. — 9 years ago

with Angelo

Wes Hagen

9.3

Savory and games in nose and mouth with great liveliness and verve after 11 years. Balanced and screaming for duck, venison or chanterelle risotto. Brilliant! — 9 years ago