One of the things that distinguishes Oregon Pinot Noir from much of California is there is an earthiness that California does not possess. This 2020 certainly offers bright and expressive Pinot fruit – strawberry, Bing cherry, red raspberry, along with pomegranate and cola notes, but also an earthiness similar to mild mushroom. The acidity is in check, the fruit and oak nicely balanced, and you’re left with a solid wine that reflects its place of origin. Siduri produces wines from many different Pinot regions in Oregon and throughout California, and one of the reasons they are so successful is they understand the place where the fruit comes from. This Willamette will not disappoint and will give you a taste of Oregon.

After 14 months in 30% new French oak, this is a compelling Pinot Noir that favors fruit, baking spice and sweet herbs. Layers range from plum, pomegranate and lavender to boysenberry and Bing cherry. There’s a sense of silkiness that’s joined by juiciness, Craisin and a finish that brings everything together.
Outstanding!

I loved the nose on the 2019 Pinot Noir Hapgood Vineyard, and it has complex red and black fruits as well as some foresty, floral nuances, medium-bodied richness, good purity of fruit, and ripe tannins. It's a balanced, satisfying Pinot Noir to drink over the coming 4-6 years.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Signature Collection Barbara's Clone 667 comes from the same vineyard (Julia's Vineyard) but is a clonal selection brought up in new barrels. It's a better-balanced Pinot offering impressive red and black fruits, notes of spice box, forest floor, and dried flowers, medium body, integrated oak, and a great finish. This layered, ripe, wonderfully textured Pinot Noir is going to keep for 7-8 years, if not longer.

The 2020 Syrah Ex Post Facto (100% Syrah) comes from sites in Santa Barbara County and is always a vibrant, cool-climate inspired Syrah (although it’s certainly ripe). Ripe red and blackberry fruits, sappy green herbs, and peppery notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a fleshy, rounded, opulent texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This beauty is going to shine for 7-8 years.

Readers looking for a smoking value in Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County will love the 2021 Diatom. Offering a light gold hue as well as a juicy array of ripe melon, pineapple, honeyed flowers, and chalky minerality, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, good acidity, and a great finish. It's well worth a case purchase and should keep for at least 4-6 years, although there's no need to delay gratification.

The 2019 Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard is laced with crushed flowers, sweet red/purplish berry fruit, cinnamon and rose petal. The aromatics are quite alluring. On the palate, the 2019 is a bit more nervy and reticent. Even so, there's good energy and plenty of persistence, along with a good bit of weight that becomes increasingly apparent over time.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Barbara's Clone 667 shows the more gracious side of the estate. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, orange peel, lavender and rose petal lend notable aromatic presence. This is an especially airy, ethereal style that, in this cool vintage, leans into the realm of nervy.

The 2020 Pinot Noir 459 is intensely savory and brooding in this vintage. Dark fruit, tobacco, incense and dried herbs emerge with some coaxing, but only reluctantly. Time brings out a slightly more elegant, nuanced side to the 459. It will be interesting to see where things ultimately settle. Readers should plan on giving this a few years to soften.

The 2020 Pinot Noir Machado presents a distinctly dark profile and greater breadth than the other wines in the range, a reflection of the clay-rich souls in this parcel. Dark red/blue fruit and big tannins convey quite a bit of primary intensity. This brooding Pinot will need a few years to soften.

From the west side on sedimentary soils, the 2019 Pinot Noir Conifer is forward with fresh pine, compost, and black cherry. It is a well-structured wine with freshness and is noted by red plum, tea leaf, and forest herbs. Drink. 2024-2034.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard pours a transparent ruby, with aromas of wild raspberry, clove, and dusty earth. The palate is silky, with round red fruit of baked strawberry, cherry pit, and shitake. It is approachable and appealing now, or drink it over the following 6-8 years.

Brooding aromas of licorice, black cherry liqueur, and leather jump from the glass of the 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard, and the palate is luxurious without feeling heavy, offering notes of black plum, turned soil, and espresso. With a silky texture and a rounded mouthfeel, it should warrant another year or two in bottle. Drink 2024-2034.

The 2015 Blanc de Blancs takes on more toasted rounded aromas, with oak spice, brioche, caramelized citrus, and baked apple. The palate is tension-filled, with great concentration, a chalky texture, and notes of pear and lime. Drink 2022-2030.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton is perfumed with savory fresh pine, grapefruit, cedar, and incense as well as black cherry fruit. The palate is dry, revealing notes of black raspberry, tobacco, and dusty earth. Drink 2023-2032.

Just looking through the box that arrived, I went to grab a bottle of The Peake (Cab/Shiraz) and pulled out another bottle of The Trueman, which made me double take, and question my sanity. Turns out there’s no Peake, but two Trueman. Lucky me! So I’ll leave that one to CM or MB to review. It’ll be Peake CM, if he does it. It’s a little wheaty and squishy in profile, feels slightly truffle-edged and baked plum, along with nougat and cedar oak, and some tobacco, and sage. Medium-bodied, tobacco and truffle, fine-grained milk chocolate tannin, though there is some firmness and grip here and ironstone feel, and some sun dried tomato and raspberry on a finish of dry tannin and good length. It’s a good wine, though I feel slightly off the pace this vintage.

La Crema's 2017 Kelli Ann Vineyard is in a fine place right now, one of La Crema's prized single vineyards in the heart of the Russian Valley. the toastiness of wood ageing and lees ageing is increasingly apparent with the maple syrup, curry flavours creeping in on the caramelized orchard fruit and citrus. Acids are creamy and round, balancing 14.2% alcohol declared. Length is very good to excellent, and concentration is clearly above the mean. Ready to enjoy or hold short term.

La Crema continues to engage single vineyard fruit with another example coming this time from Russian River Valley's Kelli Ann Vineyard. The site is off of Eastside Road on the banks of the Russian River, planted in 1989. The '17 chardonnay was barrel fermented and then aged 15 months in 35 per cent new French wood. Comes away pure and of a distinct varietal character that accepts the brûlée provided by the barrel, to caramelize and spice accentuate flavours so reminiscent of lemon curd. Both pretty and plentiful there is ample weight and also texture to sink one's teeth into. Has done it's aging so get at this sooner rather than later.

Medium yellow color. The aromas are so fresh, with kiwi, yellow apples, topped in chalk, stony minerals, saline, some bread crumbs and honey. The palate is full of precise acidity and deep texture, with flavors of lemons and limes and crunchy yellow apples. Some floral perfume and saline tones blend well with biscuits, bread dough and some honey. A very clear and focused Chardonnay that should age nicely. Really surprising and delicious stuff.

High-toned red fruit encompasses the palate of this full-bodied wine, that is supple and generous in tannin and flecks of black pepper and clove. A rounded texture gives it a welcome plushness and length.

The 2020 Pinot Noir has classic markers of beet root, cinnamon spice, and raspberry seed, followed by a medium-bodied palate with a stony mouthfeel, offering notes of fresh cherry pit, with fresh roses, and crunchy red fruit on the finish. This wine is sourced from what is now officially known as the West Sonoma Coast.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is perfumed with sweet crushed flowers, candied blackberry, and soft baking spice. The palate is juicy up front and gives way to more savory fine-grained tannins and a supple mouthfeel, with notes of black tea and wild herbs. Drink 2025-2042.
Vérité

The 2020 Pinot Noir Skycrest Vineyard is more introverted in its aromatics of fresh fig, freshly turned earth, and sassafras. It has a more powerful structure and grip, with notes of ripe black cherry pit and tea leaf. Allow some time in bottle before drinking 2024-2028.

The 2019 Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard is fragrant of ripe red plum, dried red flowers, and orange oil. The palate is ripe with plum pit, turned earth, and tea leaf. This is a little more savory expression, offering gamey richness and fine tannins. Drink it over the next 8 or so years.

The nose of the 2019 Pinot Noir Zena Crown Vineyard is expressive of some black fruit as well as iron-rich minerality and moss-covered earth. The palate is savory with iron-rich earth, red cherry pit, and crunchy red plum skin. Drink this over the next 6 or so years.