Best California AVA for pinot noir?

WINE TALK
1

Best California AVA for pinot noir?

  • Alexander Valley
  • Anderson Valley
  • Arroyo Grande Valley
  • Arroyo Seco
  • Atlas Peak
  • Ben Lomond Mountain
  • Benmore Valley
  • Bennett Valley
  • Calistoga
  • Carmel Valley
  • Central Coast
  • Chalk Hill
  • Chalone
  • Chiles Valley
  • Cienega Valley
  • Clear Lake
  • Cole Ranch
  • Covelo
  • Diamond Mountain District
  • Dos Rios
  • Dry Creek Valley
  • Edna Valley
  • Green Valley of Russian River Valley
  • Guenoc Valley
  • Hames Valley
  • High Valley
  • Howell Mountain
  • Knights Valley
  • Lime Kiln Valley
  • Livermore Valley
  • Los Carneros
  • McDowell Valley
  • Mendocino
  • Mendocino Ridge
  • Monterey
  • Mt. Harlan
  • Mt. Veeder
  • Napa Valley
  • North Coast
  • Northern Sonoma
  • Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
  • Oakville
  • Pacheco Pass
  • Paicines
  • Paso Robles
  • Potter Valley
  • Red Hills Lake County
  • Redwood Valley
  • Rockpile
  • Russian River Valley
  • Rutherford
  • San Antonio Valley
  • San Benito
  • San Bernabe
  • San Francisco Bay
  • San Lucas
  • San Ysidro District
  • Santa Clara Valley
  • Santa Cruz Mountains
  • Santa Lucia Highlands
  • Santa Maria Valley
  • Santa Rita Hills
  • Santa Ynez Valley
  • Solano County Green Valley
  • Sonoma Coast
  • Sonoma Mountain
  • Sonoma Valley
  • Spring Mountain District
  • St. Helena
  • Stags Leap District
  • Suisun Valley
  • Wild Horse Valley
  • York Mountain
  • Yorkville Highlands
  • Yountville

0 voters

Which AVA makes the best pinot noir? I left in all of them from the Wikipedia page of Central Coast and north coast, even though many of them probably have few to no pinot noir grapes.

2

No track record yet but watch for the pinots from Bennett Valley; they are just coming on line and I think that AVA has pretty nice potential.
Best, Jim

3

SCM, with Anderson Valley a close second.

4

Anderson Valley

5

Have enjoyed everything tried from Sonoma Coast

6

Anderson Valley

+1

7

#1 Santa Cruz Mountains

for #2 its a tie for me between True Sonoma Coast and Mendo/Anderson Valley

8

In terms of traditionally styled pinot, I think the battleground for the foreseeable future will be between Anderson Valley and the Santa Cruz Mts. There just aren’t many places to expand, however, in SCM. I thought it was very telling that Rhys recently made a big push into Anderson (next door to Copain’s great Kiser “En Haut” Vineyard).

In terms of modern-styled pinot, I like SLH.

1 Like
9

+2 Fo Sho

10

Exactly my thoughts.

11

Based on my drinking history going back 25 years: RRV

Based on my pride and true belief 25 years from now: SRH

1 Like
12

Flawed poll. No mention of the Willamette Valley. [smileyvault-ban.gif]

13

I’ll echo Bob’s sentiment, as I did not see Gevrey-Chambertin listed either. [stirthepothal.gif]

14

I voted SRH, but right up there were SLH, RRV, and Sonoma Coast.

Many others I like a lot (SCM) - heck, i don’t discriminate!

15

Too early to tell honestly. Plus there are stylistic differences that seem fairly varied to me. I’m going with Sonoma Coast as the best over a broad range of producers today. SC Mountains has a lot of potential. Anderson Valley has some but I’m not sure it’s going to be more than a few vineyards. I really like wines from RRV, Arroyo Grande, SRH and SLH as well.

16

I have never had a SCM pinot yet. pileon

17

+1… It’s tough to choose just one for the poll. I would choose these two as well, with them jockeying back and forth between #1 and #2 based on my whim at the time.

18

I feel as if I stepped into a polling booth, and instead of a ballot, I found a telephone book.

1 Like
19

That’s an interesting proposition. Bennett is for me on the edge of being even too warm for Syrah. I’ll be interested in what Pinot can do there, but on first principles it wouldn’t have come to mind.

20

I definitely agree with the tie between Sonoma Coast and AV.

What’s the difference between North Coast and Sonoma Coast? I voted for North Coast, thinking this was “True” Sonoma Coast.

Interesting love for Santa Cruz. Seems like a bit of bandwagoning to me, how many producers are there, and what track record do they have (outside of Mt Eden)? Rhys has a lot of potential, I have never quite gotten the love for Mt. Eden, please explain :slight_smile: