Tasted in a flight with far more expensive wines, this Pinot stood proud. It is dry and richly complex, with the silk-and-satin texture you want. The flavors reward with cherries, cola, Canadian bacon, Indian spices and sandalwood. At this price, it is a steal.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 91

[Issue: 07/01/10]

Light and fragrant, brimming with gorgeous raspberry, strawberry, lingonberry and cream flavors, lingering enticingly on the delicate finish. Drink now through 2014.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: May 31/10]

Polished and open-textured, with an airy feel to the red cherry, tobacco and spice flavors, floating easily over refined tannins and lingering on the finish. Drink now through 2013. 18,430 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Dec 31/09]

Vivid ruby. Expansive, seductive bouquet of raspberry, cherry compote, potpourri and spicecake. Juicy red fruit flavors are braced by zesty acidity and pick up a peppery, spicy quality on the back end. This racy, precise pinot finishes with very good punch and lingering red berry and floral notes.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: Jul/Aug 10]

Silky, elegant and appealing for its juicy raspberry, spice and cream flavors, lingering enticingly on the shapely finish. Drink now through 2014. 500 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Web only 2009]

The fruit for the 2008 Pinot Noir was sourced from a 15-acre parcel from the Adriana Vineyard made famous by Catena Zapata and aged in 30% new French oak. It displays lovely aromatics of raspberry and cherry, plenty of body, sweet, succulent flavors, a silky texture, and outstanding depth. It should drink well for another 8 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Good full medium with a hint of development at the rim. Currant, plum, spices and vanillin oak on the nose, complicated by suggestions of stone fruits and citrus peel. Suave on entry, then perfumed but youthfully tight in the middle, showing dominant notes of loam and spicy oak. Best today on the back end, which displays subtle tannins and fleshier, sweeter fruit.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91+

[Issue: May/June 08]

The dark ruby-colored 2007 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee offers up a superb bouquet of smoke, cinnamon, rose petal, cherry, and cranberry. Spicy, expressive, and medium-bodied on the palate, it displays a racy personality marked by savory flavor, vibrant acidity, good depth, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. Drink this tasty effort through 2017.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #185 / Oct 09]

Barnett is better known as a producer of very good Cabernet. But their Chardonnays can be great, and so can their Pinot Noirs. This single-vineyard bottling has the elegance of the best Anderson Valley Pinots, a dry, crisp wine of great complexity. The flavors of cherries, licorice, Dr. Pepper, sweet Chinese tea and bacon are delicious and compelling.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 93

[Issue: 07/01/08]

A floral and pure nose that reflects vegetal hints that are more in the character of adding complexity than actual greenness introduces delineated and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a dusty and moderately structured finish that delivers lovely persistence. This is a classically styled effort of elegance and finesse and has little in common with the high ripeness and ultra rich school of pinot. Drink 2014+.

Burghound Rating: 91

[Issue: 07/01/09]

Vivid red. Sexy, intensely perfumed aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, cinnamon, mace and minerals. Impressively energetic and pure, offering spicy red berry flavors and a suave floral quality. The finish repeats the red fruit and spice notes and lingers seductively.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 93

[Issue: May/June 09]

From Dijon clone 777, the 2007 Pinot Noir South Slope is from the highest elevation of any of the Hansel vineyards (and there are 80 acres). It has deep plum and pomegranate notes with hints of sassafras and wood spice. The wine displays a nice, subtle smokiness, medium to full body, good acidity, and a long finish. Unfortunately, there is very little made. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016.

Wine Advocate Rating: (91-93)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

Vivid red. Suave, spicy aromas of raspberry, candied cherry and smoky minerals, with a touch of white pepper adding complexity. Smooth in texture, with deep red berry preserve flavors framed by velvety tannins. Gains weight with air and finishes with deeper dark fruit qualities and lingering spiciness. Highly alluring and emphatically New World in style; this will work well with spicy or smoky foods.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: Nov/Dec 09]

The 2007 Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard is medium ruby-colored with a complex aromatic array of toast, mineral, spice box, cherry, and raspberry. Velvety and succulent on the palate, the wine has excellent density, balance, and length. It is the prototypical style of what the vintage permitted in 2007, complete in every way.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #185 / Oct 09]

Bright red. Wild strawberry and raspberry on the nose, with suave floral and spice notes adding vivacity. Extremely fresh, nervy red berry flavors pack a serious punch but seem weightless and betray no edges or obvious tannins. This silky, seductive pinot finishes with mineral-laced red fruits and excellent clarity.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: May/June 09]

The 2006 Pinot Noir Russian River exhibits aromas of plums, currants, underbrush, and subtle smoke as well as silky tannins, a ripe, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a soft finish.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

Supple, elegant and stylish, showing rich blackberry and blueberry fruit, with pretty loamy, earthy shadings. Gains traction and depth, ending with firm tannins and a pleasing mineral edge. Drink now through 2013.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: Aug 31/09]

An ultra pure, airy and cool nose of extract of red pinot fruit trimmed in overt floral nuances a hint of vegetal that, like the Ryan, adds depth rather than any sense of greenness. The purity of the nose continues onto the detailed, intense and delicious yet entirely serious medium-bodied flavors that possess fine depth and excellent length. This is an impeccably balanced wine of elegance and understatement that is classically styled.

Burghound Rating: 92

[Issue: 07/01/09]

The Pinot Noirs begin with the 2007 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley. Medium ruby-colored, it offers an enticing bouquet of smoke, spice box, cherry, and raspberry. Medium-bodied, on the palate it has a solid acid backbone, light tannin, plenty of savory red fruit, and an overall elegant personality. Another 1-2 years of bottle age should round it out although it can be enjoyed now.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #185 / Oct 09]

Light, bright red. Pure, fresh aromas of red berries, cherry, Asian spices and minerals. Juicy, sweet and penetrating, with a medicinal reserve to the fresh raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Gains sweetness with air while maintaining its energy. Finishes with very good clarity and impressive spicy persistence.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 92

[Issue: May/June 10]

Its dark ruby color is followed by copious notes of berry fruit intermixed with underbrush, sweet cherries and raspberries. The wine reveals a nice acid profile as well as some tannins that require resolution, but it is a well-endowed Pinot that should last up to a decade. Youthful, tight, yet promising, the dark ruby/plum-colored 2007 Pinot Noir La Neblina displays crisp acidity, dark forest floor notes intermixed with cherries, spice box, and an almost bouquet garni meatiness. It will benefit from a year of bottle age and drink well for 5-7 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #187 / Feb 10]

A highly floral and high-toned red pinot fruit nose gives way gracefully to rich, round and naturally sweet flavors that possess good vibrancy and depth on the balanced, intense and lingering finish where the only nit is a hint of backend warmth. Note that if a cool serving temperature is maintained, the warmth is virtually a non-issue.

Burghound Rating: 91

[Issue: 07/01/09]

Medium garnet-crimson hue. Lovely bouquet of black fruit compote, forest floor and smoke. Very expressive on the palate with cola and soft black and red fruit flavors accented by a bit of mocha in a lush, silky texture with a long finish.

Wine News Rating: 91

[Issue: October 2009]

ivid red. Ripe black raspberry and cherry aromas are brightened by sexy mineral and floral qualities. Energetic, juicy red and dark berry flavors are impressively pure and framed by silky tannins. Gains weight with air and finishes with excellent clarity and sweet persistence. I really like this wine's marriage of richness and vivacity.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 94

[Issue: May/June 09]

Light red. Deeply pitched cherry and licorice aromas are complicated by smoky herbal, floral and spice qualities. Much more backward than the M, with a darker fruit profile and stronger tannic grip. Very young still, with potent cherry skin and bitter chocolate flavors lifted by a late spicy note. The finish features tangy minerals and lingers with great tenacity.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 92+

[Issue: May/June 10]

Sleek and refined, a delicate style, with complex earthy cherry, cedar, mineral and savory herb notes that are medium-bodied and refined, gaining depth and complexity. Drink now through 2015.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: May 31/10]

The 2006 Pinot Noir Reserve is a barrel selection of the best in the cellar. It was aged for 11 months in 50% new French oak. Toast, earth notes, raspberry preserves and cherry pie compose a formidable bouquet leading to a rich, layered, nearly opulent wine with excellent balance and a long, fruit-filled finish. Drink it from 2010 to 2018.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

Deep, bright ruby. A complex bouquet displays scents of black raspberry, kirsch, potpourri and smoky minerals. Pliant red and dark berry flavors are framed by silky tannins and pick up a deeper cola quality with air. The dark berry notes dominate the impressively pure and seductively sweet finish. I wouldn't hesitate to drink this now, but expect that it will reward another five years or so of patience.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 93

[Issue: May/June 09]

The 2006 Pinot Noir Mineral Springs has an especially expressive bouquet with floral notes, pain grille, damp earth, black raspberry, and blueberry. On the palate, the wine is layered, bordering on opulent. The savory, ripe, spicy dark fruit flavors persist into a lengthy, velvety textured finish. Give it 2-3 years and drink it from 2011 to 2020.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

Smooth and round, with a lovely polished feel to the dark berry, cherry, licorice and spice flavors, flowing easily over finely tuned tannins, persisting expressively. Drink now through 2016. 9,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: May 31/09]

This required several hours of aeration to reluctantly emerge from its youthful shell but when it did the elegant and very pure aromas of floral, red berry and spice hints formed the perfect complement to the intense, detailed, complex and refined medium-bodied flavors that possess lovely precision and excellent inner mouth perfume that lingers and lingers. Moreover, this appears to be allowing only glimpses as to the ultimate quality as this is very much a baby. Great potential.

Burghound Rating: 92

[Issue: 07/01/09]

The 2006 Pinot Noir Winery Hill Vineyard is sourced from Dijon clones planted in 2000 and 2001. It was fermented with 3.5% stems for additional spiciness. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a spicy, cigar box perfume along with expressive blue and black fruits. On the palate it is quite dense and weighty with layers of savory dark fruit flavors bordering on opulence. This rich wine has a finish lasting for nearly a minute. Drink it from 2012 to 2020. Domaine Serene has turned out its most successful set of Pinot Noirs in several vintages.

Wine Advocate Rating: 94

[Issue: #179 / Oct 08]

A strikingly elegant, pure and complex nose that is restrained and understated offers floral, red berry, spice and an herbal hint that merges seamlessly into concentrated and rich medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent mid-palate fat and superb length. It's rare to find a 2006 that has both richness and delineation all while retaining the fine balance that great wines have. This should be really impressive in 8 years or so, in fact, it's already impressive but there is more to come.

Burghound Rating: 94

[Issue: 07/01/09]

Deep medium red color. Initially a bit mute on the nose, but showed increasingly sappy aromas of black plum, bitter chocolate, mint and spices with air. Sweet, dense and thick, with a solid core of spicy blackberry flavor. A fruit bomb of a pinot with excellent breadth and verve. The small berries in 2007 yielded barely two tons per acre of fruit. Longer and more satisfying than the 2006 version.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: May/June 09]

Deceptively concentrated, smooth and soothing. Ripe and fleshy, with dark fruit, black licorice, mineral and fresh earth flavors. Full-bodied, this gains complexity and depth on the finish. Drink now through 2014.

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: June 15/09]

The 2007 Pinot Noir Lindsay Estate exhibits a distinctive nose of chocolate, cocoa, black cherries, plums, earth, and pomegranate. Displaying terrific fruit as well as an expansive, full-bodied mouthfeel, the wine has filled out considerably since last year.

Wine Advocate Rating: 94

[Issue: #187 / Feb 10]

From the Widdoes and Avid vineyards, the 2007 Pinot Noir Ryan is made from the Martini clone as well as several Dijon clones. It reveals foresty/autumnal characteristics intermixed with notes of raspberries, black cherries, cola, and spice box. Full-bodied and rich, along with the Finn, it is the biggest, most concentrated of these Pinots. It should be drinkable in 2-3 years, and will last for 15+.

Wine Advocate Rating: 94

[Issue: #187 / Feb 2010]