Though less than half a century old, and remarkably young compared to its European counterparts, the wine industry in California has managed to enchant the country’s wine buying public as well as receive accolades from “across the pond.” This may be because of two realities. First is the undeniable quality of the wines—remarkably fruity, full and satisfying, rarely too austere or tannic to be savored from the first day. The second is the “buy American” angle. A very high number of American wine buyers simply prefer domestic to foreign wines.
The state plays host to an enormous range of microclimates and soils as well as a lot of sunshine, hot summer days and dry harvests. All these factors contribute to healthy ripe fruits that make European producers, in less dependable climates, green with envy. More than three out of every four years, California’s best sites produces excellent wines.
The U.S. is not protectionist when it comes to taxing imported wines compared to many other countries, but the California wine industry is inherently protected because of consumers wanting to buy American.
To most people, the Napa Valley is the home of California wine, and Cabernet is the clear king in Napa. Burgundy varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have moved to cooler areas, for the most part closer to the Pacific. This includes the western stretches of Sonoma County, the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, and the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys of Santa Barbara County. In regions as contrasting as Mendocino County, the Sonoma coast, Carneros, Paso Robles, and Santa Maria Valley, Syrah vines have yielded interesting wines. Excellent Zinfandel is also produced all over the state and may be the only California wine emulated abroad.
Vinous, 94 points: The 2017 Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge is one of the most intriguing, layered Pinots in this range, as it so often is. Bright and precise in feel, the Comptche Ridge is built on a palpable sense of linear energy. A whole...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Moving to the reds, the appellation 2018 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast was just about completely destemmed (2% stems) and spent 10 months in 18% new French oak. Lots of spice box, earthy forest floor, cherries, and redcurrant...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This has very complex aromas of primary fruit, wild herbs, blue fruit and a spicy, meaty edge. Assertive oak meets rich fruit. The palate is impressively pure, supple and richly flavored with blueberries and cherries...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Starting with the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Sta. Rita Hills, which comes from vines around the estate and saw 40% stems, it reveals a medium ruby hue as well as a great bouquet of ripe cherry and raspberry fruits intermixed...
Vinous, 96 points: The 2018 Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 43 shows the more floral, lifted side of Bien Nacido, especially to the Block 8. Red berry fruit, chalk, mint, rose petal and white pepper give the Block 43 a distinctive...
Wine Spectator, 90 points: A fine-grained red, with graphite accents to the dried red fruit and berry flavors. Savory midpalate, with a focused finish that's filled with forest floor notes. Drink now through 2024. 8,041 cases made. — KM
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points: Fresh boysenberry and cranberry aromas are wrapped in a rusty iron note on the nose of this bottling. There's a tarry tone to the sip, which is firm in tension and offers flavors of black plum, lavender and cracked pepper.
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Lively aromas of hibiscus, raspberry, cherry, star anise and the slightest gamy funk show on the nose of this bottling. There is a more hearty tone to the complex palate, where riper strawberry and raspberry flavors meet...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: The 2016 Pinot Noir Estate is the larger production red from this team, yet it certainly gives a good view into the quality coming from the Hilt wines. Black cherries, black raspberries, graphite, peppery herbs, and...
jamessuckling.com, 92 points: Extremely fresh and fruity with plums and dried strawberries, as well as a citrus-peel undertone. Full body, light tannins and a delicious finish. Fruit-forward pinot noir. Drink now. Screw cap.
jebdunnuck.com, 90 points: Starting with the 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, which comes from multiple sites in the Anderson Valley and spent 16 months in 60% new French oak, it has a juicy berry-fruited nose as well as ample violets, candied...
Vinous, 94 points: Sandhi's 2017 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is beautifully layered and nuanced. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, mint and white pepper all grace this exquisite Pinot. The 2017 is wonderfully deep, fleshy and...
jebdunnuck.com, 92 points: Moving to the two Pinot Noirs, the 2017 Pinot Noir Cleary Ranch The Settler from the Cleary Ranch Vineyard was all destemmed and brought up in 38% new French oak. It has a rocking nose of spiced cherries, raspberries...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Cleary Ranch The Settler has a nose of granite dust, tobacco leaf, crunchy cranberry and Bing cherry with soft potpourri touches. Light to medium-bodied, it's earthy and minerally...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Readers looking for a textbook Russian River Pinot should check out the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Offering up a medium ruby hue as well as lots of spiced red fruits, cola, leafy herbs, and flowery incense...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: The 2018 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard comes from a site not far from the Pacific Ocean, in the Sonoma Coast AVA, and it's one of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup in 2018. Deeper ruby-hued, with a stunning nose of...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: The energy and focus that is typical of the cooler sites within the Santa Lucia Highlands comes through in the 2010 Pinot Noir Rosella’s. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and spices are woven together nicely as the wine...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: This richly tight, layered and intense coastal wine combines grapes from several amazing sites, including Kanzler, Gap's Crown and Jenkins. Savory freshness defines it, with mineral, forest and tea at the forefront of the...
jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Extremely beautiful aromas of strawberry, ginger, smoke and dried meat. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are very well integrated and intense, yet there’s a linear feel through the wine that gives it tension and...
jamessuckling.com, 99 points: This is really refined with black tea, rose petals, orange and blue fruit. It’s medium-bodied with wild-strawberry and forest-floor flavors. Medium-bodied with great vibrancy and beautiful tannins running through the...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: The aromas of strawberry and raspberry with conifer and hints of bark are impressive. Full-bodied, but so reserved and linear with super long, tightened tannins that melt into the wine. 100% whole cluster. Drinkable now...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2017 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard is slightly deeper colored (it's still translucent) and offers a gorgeous nose of ripe redcurrants, cherries, spring flowers, sappy forest floor, and ample spice nuances. With medium to...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The Coteaux Nobles Pinot Noir comes from 27-year-old vines planted at the Nobles Ranch vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Coteaux Nobles has the most intense, fragrant...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (92 - 94 points) A finished tank sample, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is made using about 25% whole-cluster fermentation—the first time, David Ramey says, that they've experimented with whole cluster. Pale to...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: I was blown away by the 2019 Pinot Noir Cuvee Number One. This gorgeous wine offers a thrilling nose of black raspberries as well as strawberry-like fruit intermixed with wildflowers, loamy soil, and leafy herbs. Medium...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Intense aromas of dried strawberry with stone and mineral undertones. Medium to full body with tight, firm tannins and beautiful length and depth. This needs three or four years to come together. Try after 2023.
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