usapinot

2018  Swan & Calera Selection

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Doc's Ranch Swan & Calera Selection is scented of red cherries and cranberries with tones of bitter citrus, tobacco leaves, dried flowers and Angostura bitters. Light-bodied, silty and incredibly fresh, its slim frame holds a surprising amount of pure, crunchy fruits, and it finishes with tremendous length and spicy layers. The Swan clone fruit included in this cuvée comes from vines planted in 1995, and the Calera clones were planted in 2011. It's another 2018 from the Cobb portfolio that offers both ageability and immediate appeal." - 97pts WA

2013  Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

2017  St. Dolores Estate, Willamette Valley

St. Dolores Estate, Willamette Valley ---- "Shimmering ruby-red. Pungent red and dark fruit liqueur, candied rose, exotic spices and woodsmoke aromas show fine delineation and a musky hint of licorice. Palate-staining, impressively concentrated black raspberry, cherry preserve and spicecake flavors open up through the midpalate, taking on smoky mineral and floral nuances and showing gently chewy texture. Rich and broad, but there's energy here as well. Finishes extremely long, with powerful, floral-driven thrust and talc-y tannins that fold smoothly into the wine's energetic fruit. 14% new oak." - 95pts Vinous

2021  Van Duzer Corridor, Willamette Valley

"Fragrant nose of licorice, green strawberries, spring leaves and balsamic. Bright, wild and zesty with wonderfully silky tannins and fantastic freshness. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold." - 94pts James Suckling ---- (VinePair The 50 Best Wines of 2023, #36.)

2021  Pinot Noir

"From 40-year-old self-rooted vines that are organically farmed, the 2021 Pinot Noir Carter Vineyard is a ripe ruby hue and offers notes of grenadine, candied roses, and cinnamon. Its tannins are ripe and fine, and it fills the palate with ripe red fruit, apricot, and notes of crushed stone along with mouthwatering salinity. Drink 2023-2038." - 98pts JD

2021  

Winemaker notes: In planting this vineyard in 2007, we chose two different California Heritage clones, Swan and Calera, to produce a distinct wine that reflects the soil and climate. This Pinot Noir has leagues of depth and aromatic notes of forest floor, cassis, and cinnamon. On the palate, notes of plum, cranberry compote, rosemary, oolong tea and a zesty acidity draw out into a clean perfumed finish. ---- "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Irmgard Pinot Noir soars form the glass with vibrant notes of fresh cranberries, Bing cherries, and red roses, followed by hints of wild strawberries and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is completely filled with vivacious red berries and floral layers, framed by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and perfumed." - 96pts TWI

2013  Robert's Road Vineyard

The early Pinot Noir bottlings from Joseph Swan amazed winemakers and critics alike with their similarity to fine Burgundy. Joe thought his greatest contribution to Pinot Noir in America was that his vines were directly descended from vineyards in Burgundy. There still exist in northern California a handful of vineyards planted to the Pinot Noir budwood that was so vital to his success. We found two of those vineyards, and winemaker Tadeo Borchardt is carving out his own legacy with fruit from them. The first is the Sangiacomo Family Roberts Road Vineyard, in the cool, fog-shrouded environs of the Petaluma Gap. The soil here is gravel with basalt. The second is Chuy Ordaz’s Placida Vineyard, on the Gold Ridge Clay of the Russian River Valley, west of Santa Rosa. We harvest fruit from both blocks by hand, then sort the berries. We remove about 50% of the stems, ferment in open top fermenters using native wild yeast. We punch down the cap manually several times daily. The wine is subsequently aged for one year in 60-gallon French oak barrels. Each wine has its own unique Burgundian profile, and each is a valuable example of what Joe was trying to accomplish.

2012  (writing on label)

(writing on label) ---- 94pts WA

2020  Santa Rita Hills Cuvee

"The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée is a terrific introduction to the range. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a touch of whole cluster savoriness are all beautifully delineated. This is such a gorgeous and expressive Pinot." - 93pts Vinous

2020  La Rinconada

"The 2020 Pinot Noir La Rinconada Vineyard is a potent, searing wine. Bright red-toned fruit, minerals, crushed rocks, white pepper and iron all race across the palate. I find the stems overpowering to the degree that site character is masked. This austere, reticent Pinot will need a number of years to come together. It's a very good wine, but one that could have been and should have been better." - 93pts Vinous

2018  Sonoma Coast

From 25 year-old vines farmed organically by Greg Adams. Planted in the Sonoma Coast AVA in a vineyard located along Baker Lane which is a combination of Calera, 667, and 777 clones. 75% whole cluster fermentation with native yeasts in tank for 10-12 days. 25% is direct pressed, once the must is dry, into neutral oak for 10 months.

2023  Sta Rita Hills

"Whitcraft's Radian Pinot Noir exudes cold depth, like a mossy pond with streaks of filtered sunlight streaming through it. Crunchy, blood-coloured berry notes burst on the palate like springtime, intertwining fruity highlights with shadowy mineral undertones. The wine's foundation bears a striking resemblance to the vineyard it hails from, renowned for its unique soil composition - primarily clay, loam, and substantial deposits of the fossilised remains of diatoms, a type of microalgae, which impart a clean yet earthy profile on the palate, full of minerality and slick wet stone salinity. The finish is gradual, lingering as if it always will, provided it remains undisturbed by outside forces. Deliciously clean and exuberant now, with ample breadth and elasticity. An impressive piece of Santa Barbara history awaits those willing to wait 5-10 years to enjoy it." - 98pts Decanter ---- "This site is very special. Steep, southwest and southeast facing hillsides loaded with dark rich clay and golf ball sized pieces of chert. Every day it is windy and cool. It pours a dense dark red in the glass, showing that the berries are small and concentrated and not over watered. Very dark, much like 2021 Radian was. The nose is Burgundy, a million layers to dissect. Red fruit, purple fruit, baking spices, petrichor, beautiful high quality tea leaves, mineral water, salty air, and rose petals. Basically, everything you want and expect from great Pinot Noir. The mouth is fleshy, firm, taut and giving all at the same time. Juicy red fruit brings immense childlike pleasure, this is an adult candy in a glass, but so much more. The rich soil shows as refined tannin, and the tiny thicker-skinned berries show off with a depth of fruit only a site with this long of a growing season could have. For a frame of reference to that, this site bud breaks 2-3 weeks earlier than Pence, and comes off a month later. The amount of time given by Mother Nature for this fruit to develop flavor is crazy and matched only in the coldest parts of the Sonoma and Mendocino coasts, 300+ miles to the north. Stunning now and will age tremendously." - Drake Whitcraft